Milo

TROUBLED TIMES
Psalms 34–41

“A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” (Ps. 34:19).

When difficulties overwhelm, the believer can turn to God. The Lord will listen as we express our feelings. Most important, He will act.

Overview
David expressed praise for deliverance (Ps. 34), followed by two psalms of imprecations directed against enemies (Pss. 35–36). Yet we can celebrate trust (Ps. 37), even when we are disciplined (Ps. 38) or have lost perspective (Ps. 39). Whatever the situation, we can appeal to God for mercy in our times of need (Pss. 40–41).

Understanding the Text
Psalm 34: God’s Unfailing Love. We are to praise God at all times, for in many ways we continually experience the unfailing love of our God.

“When he feigned insanity.” The superscription gives us the setting of this psalm. David, giving in to despair, fled his homeland and went to the land of the Philistines. There he was recognized and escaped death only by pretending to be insane. Filled with relief, David’s thoughts turned to the Lord, and as he journeyed back to Israel and his destiny, he saw fresh evidence of God’s unfailing love.

“At all times” Ps. 34:1–3. There may be a hint of embarrassment here. David’s flight to the land of the Philistines reveals fear, not faith. Let’s remember God’s love before we act foolishly, not after!

“He answered” Ps. 34:4–7. Even when we have acted foolishly, God does not abandon us. As David reported, “This poor man called, and the LORD heard him, He saved him out of all his troubles.”

“Taste and see” Ps. 34:8–22. David invites us to experience God’s goodness for ourselves. Let us commit ourselves to doing what is right. We may act foolishly at times, but if we are dedicated to pleasing Him, we can trust the Lord to deliver us.

Psalm 35: Against Enemies. This imprecatory psalm called down curses on David’s enemies.

“Contend, O LORD” Ps. 35:1–28. Is it right for the believer to call on God to act against his or her enemies?
This and similar psalms grew out of the psalmist’s conviction that he had a covenant relationship with the Lord. As God’s servant, the believer is free to call on the Lord to deliver him, and to punish those who by acting against God’s own have set themselves against the Lord as well.
There is another assumption in the imprecatory psalms. Those who seek to crush the godly are wicked. It is surely right for God to act against evil men.
In this context David rightly cried:

  O LORD, You have seen this; be not silent.
  Do not be far from me, O LORD.
  Awake, and rise to my defense!
  Contend for me, my God and Lord.
  Vindicate me in Your righteousness, O LORD my God;
  do not let them gloat over me.

When God does act to vindicate the righteous, He displays His love—and His righteousness.

Psalm 36: A Word to the Wicked. David warned the wicked that a just God loves the upright in heart.

“An oracle . . . concerning the sinfulness of the wicked” Ps. 36:1–4. The Hebrew has massa’, a message of judgment delivered with an overwhelming sense of divine authority. David was completely convinced that evildoers, as defined in these verses, will be “thrown down” by the Lord (v. 12).
What characterizes the evil person? He does not respect God (v. 1) or even notice his own sin (v. 2). His words are deceitful (v. 3) and he is committed to a sinful course (v. 4).

“Your righteousness . . . Your justice” Ps. 36:5–12. God is faithful, righteous, and just. He cares for both man and beast, and gives refuge to high and low.

“Continue Your love to those who know You” Ps. 36:10–12. David’s conviction that the wicked must fail rested squarely on his understanding of who God is. Because of who God is, David’s heart assured him that the wicked will be judged. And God will continue to display love toward those who know Him.

Psalm 37: In Praise of Trust. What are the characteristics and the benefits of trust in the Lord? This, one of the best-loved of the psalms, explains. (See DEVOTIONAL.)

Psalm 38: A Prayer When Disciplined. Both Testaments tell us that the Lord disciplines those He loves. Here is a prayer for us when we are disciplined by the Lord.

“I am feeble and utterly crushed” Ps. 38:1–12. The New Testament says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful” (Heb. 12:11). Reading David’s description of his feelings, we sense how painful God’s discipline was for him. David felt wounded, weak, crushed, filled with searing pain. Some may speak lightly of God’s discipline. But anyone undergoing it knows how apt David’s imagery is.
Yet consider. Rather than trying to hide, David came to God with his pain! And this is right. Like a little child who turns to Mommy for a hug after being spanked, we are to turn to God with arms held out. When we do, God, like any loving parent, will take us up in His arms and comfort us.

“You will answer” Ps. 38:13–22. Despite the fact that David realized he was being disciplined for sin, he was confident that God would answer his plea. How could David be so sure? He told us, “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” David understood what 1 John 1:9 conveys to us as a promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us.”
With his sin forgiven, David’s prayer was sure to be answered:

  O LORD, do not forsake me;
    be not far from me, O my God.
  Come quickly to help me,
    O Lord my Saviour.

Psalm 39: A Prayer for Perspective. Frustrated by complaints he dared not utter, David begged God for perspective.

“I will put a muzzle on my mouth” Ps. 39:1–3. David was unwilling to say anything against the Lord in the presence of the wicked. Yet he was upset and angry that God had not answered his prayer for help (cf. v. 12). We may feel the same frustration with God at times. David leads us then to a surprising way to deal with such feelings.

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end” Ps. 39:4–6. David didn’t ask to know the day of his death. He asked God to give him a sense of life’s brevity. What happens to us here on earth lacks ultimate importance. We need to look beyond time, to eternity. If we can only sense the fact that “each man’s life is but a breath,” we will gain perspective. The suffering that seems so terrible now lasts only for an instant. It is not unbearable after all.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?” Ps. 39:7 With this perspective, David could bear the waiting. Even so, he hoped for God to help him in his brief “now.”
How wonderful that God considers our brief moment of life important enough to bless us in our present; that during the present time we “may rejoice again” before departing our world.

Psalm 40: The Celebration of Mercy. David remembered all that God had done for him, and found freedom to cry out for new mercies.

“He lifted me” Ps. 40:1–3. These words beautifully depict mercy. In the Old Testament “mercy” pictures a helpless individual, crying out for compassion to one who is able to give aid. The “slimy pit” graphically portrays man’s helplessness. God’s “lifting me out” is the intervention of God, and the “new song” of praise is the joy we find in realizing all the Lord has done.

“O LORD my God” Ps. 40:4–11. The greatest blessing of the man “who makes the LORD his trust” is a righteousness found not in sacrifice and offering, but in One who came to do God’s will and so bring salvation.
Verses 6 and 7 are messianic, quoted in the great exposition of the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice in Hebrews 10. In the One foreshadowed in David’s words we find the righteousness, faithfulness, and salvation of our God.

“Do not withhold Your mercy from me” Ps. 40:11–17. It may seem strange, but it is the very fact that our sins overtake us, and our hearts fail, that qualifies us for mercy. Only one who senses his deep need will cry out to God for mercy. The man who shrugs off his sins, or persists in trying to dig himself out of sin’s “slimy pit,” will never look to God but will rely on his own supposed goodness.
What a privilege for us to stand, with David, and cry out:

  I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord think of me.
  You are my help and my deliverer;
    O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 41: Psalm of the Merciful. In another psalm which has messianic overtones, David expressed his confidence that the Lord will show mercy to the merciful.

“He who has regard for the weak” Ps. 41:1–3. The merciful person is sensitive to those who are weak, and aids them. This quality, so richly displayed in God’s character, is pleasing to Him in you and me. David is sure that God will deliver the merciful man when that man has need of God’s mercy.

“O LORD, have mercy on me” Ps. 41:4–13. What a great blessing when we cry out to the Lord for aid to “know that You are pleased with me.”
Ultimately the words of this psalm are those of the Messiah (cf. v. 9; Matt. 26:17–25). Yet we too can know God is pleased with us when we trust and seek to serve Him, and can appeal confidently for His mercy.

DEVOTIONAL
The Joys of Trust
(Ps. 37)
If you were to pick two psalms to memorize, the first would probably be the 23rd. But the second surely would be this great psalm in praise of trust.
No psalm has more comforting verses, more verses inviting lengthy meditation. No psalm has more verses that speak so directly to the human heart.
Because of this, it’s almost sacrilege to analyze this psalm: to break its thoughts apart, to look for similarities and themes. And yet, how much this psalm tells us about the nature, and about the benefits, of trust.
If we seek to probe the nature of trust, we find in this psalm that trust is:

*Looking to God and doing good (v. 3).
*Delighting in the Lord (v. 4).
*Committing our way to the Lord (v. 5).
*Not fretting when the wicked succeed (v. 7).
*Refraining from anger and wrath (v. 8).
*Being satisfied with little (v. 16).
*Giving generously to others (v. 21).
*Turning from evil to do good (v. 27).
*Planting God’s Law in our hearts (v. 31).
*Waiting for the Lord (v. 34).
*Keeping His way (v. 34).
*Taking refuge in the Lord (v. 40).

Trust is in fact a way of life, the way of life we choose when we commit ourselves to the Lord.

This same psalm reveals the outcome of trust. One who actively commits himself to the Lord can expect these benefits:

*To enjoy safe pastures (v. 3).
*To receive the desires of his heart (v. 4).
*To be vindicated (vv. 5–6).
*To inherit the land (vv. 9, 22, 34).
*To enjoy great peace (v. 11).
*To be upheld by God (v. 17).
*To gain an enduring inheritance (v. 18).
*To enjoy plenty in days of famine (v. 19).
*To be upheld by the Lord (v. 24).
*To always live securely (v. 27).
*To never be forsaken by God (v. 28).
*To not slip (v. 31).
*To see the wicked cut off (v. 34).
*To have a future (v. 37).
*To be helped and delivered by the Lord (v. 40).

The beauty of this psalm aside, its teaching is vital to our well-being. Only by an active trust in God, expressed in the choices made each day of our lives, can we experience the many benefits of a personal relationship with the Lord.

Personal Application
May we grasp the active nature of trust, and commit ourselves to faith’s way of responding to God.

Quotable
“The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.
“Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.”—John Emmons

THE LORD IS
Psalms 27–33

“The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1)

We now join David in psalms that praise God for who He is, and learn what His wonderful qualities mean to those who trust in Him.

Overview
To David God is a stronghold (Ps. 27), our strength and shield (Ps. 28). He is King forever (Ps. 29), a healer (Ps. 30), a rock and fortress (Ps. 31). He forgives sin (Ps. 32) and watches over all who hope in His unfailing love (Ps. 33).

Understanding the Text
Psalm 27: God our Stronghold. David focused our attention on the God who will never forsake us.

“The LORD is” Ps. 27:1. Faith is not an emotion; not something we create from within ourselves. What makes faith real and vital is not “how much” of it we have. What makes faith real and vital is its object. Even a little faith, reposed in God, can transform. Not because we “have” it, but because of who our faith is in.
As we come to this and the other psalms for today, we focus as David did on who the Lord is. When our trust and hope are fixed in Him, no matter how small our faith seems to be, God can and will come into our lives with a flood of strength and of joy.

“When evil men” Ps. 27:2–3. David devoted just 2 verses of the 14 in this psalm to the dangers which threatened him. The rest share his thoughts of God.
The proportion is about right. If we think on the Lord seven times as much as we worry, we too will find peace.

“To gaze upon the beauty of the LORD”
Ps. 27:4–14. These verses are among the most powerful in the psalter, and several cry out for memorization. “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me” (v. 10), and “I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (v. 13), are promises you and I can claim.

Psalm 28: God, Our Strength and Shield. At times when God does not seem to answer our prayers, trust alone helps.

“Turn a deaf ear to me” Ps. 28:1–5. There are times when our prayers seem futile, launched toward a dull and silent heaven. God seems indifferent, willing to let us be dragged away with the wicked. Even at times like these, we are to remember that “the Lord is.”

“The LORD is my strength and my shield” Ps. 28:6–9. How, when we cannot sense God’s presence, can we say confidently with David that “He has heard my cry for mercy”? The answer is in who God is. He is the source of our strength and our protector.
As David remembered who God is, he said, “My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” The circumstances had not changed, but suddenly David found his heart leaping with unexplainable joy.
What a wonderful gift from our wonderful God. Trust alone, anchored in our knowledge of who God is, helps.

Psalm 29: God, King Forever. It is appropriate to worship the Lord, who is enthroned as King forever.

“Ascribe to the LORD” Ps. 29:1–2. The Hebrew yahab is found only where “to the LORD” is part of the expression. It is a call to the purest kind of worship: giving praise to God for who He by nature is.

“The voice of the LORD” Ps. 29:3–9. The voice of the Lord is His power to create and to destroy by speaking a word. Human beings have to use physical tools to build up and tear down. God has merely to voice His thoughts, and it is done.

“The LORD sits enthroned” Ps. 29:10–11. The awesome power of God’s voice affirms His sovereignty over all. The Lord is King, forever. It is doubly awesome that this God “gives strength to His people” and “blesses His people with strength.”

Psalm 30: God, Our Healer. God can heal physically. And He will heal spiritually all who cry to Him for mercy.

“I will exalt You” Ps. 30:1–12. David praised God here for a physical healing. The phrase, “Going down into the pit,” is a common Hebrew euphemism for death and burial.
While physical healing is primarily in view here, there is a clear spiritual application. God our Healer (v. 2) hears the cries of the penitent for mercy, and makes it possible for us to “give You thanks forever” (v. 12).
Here again is a verse affirming who God is that brings us great comfort. God is one whose “anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.” Thus while “weeping may remain for a night,” we can be sure that “rejoicing comes in the morning” (v. 5).

Psalm 31: Our Rock and Fortress. In powerful images David invited us to find shelter in God’s presence.

“I have taken refuge” Ps. 31:1–5. As David fled from Saul, he found refuge in the rocky wilderness of Judah’s hill country. There on some mountain height David and his men camped in relative security.
We can imagine David, seated by a campfire as his men watch the one or two approaches to his craggy fortress, sensing that for him, God is just such a “rock of refuge” (vv. 2, 4). David gladly committed himself into God’s hands, and found rest.

“You saw my affliction” Ps. 31:6–18. David was pursued as an enemy by armies led by his father-in-law, King Saul. At times his situation seemed hopeless, and David was gripped by a despair that he expressed in verses 9–12. Yet, envisioning God as his fortress, David found grace to say, “I trust in You,” and, “My times are in Your hands.”
This is perhaps the greatest challenge we face when hard-pressed. We want relief now. We don’t want to wait. We hate the pressure of our present need.
Yet our times as well as we ourselves are in God’s hands. Until God acts, we must find grace to wait, holding tight to God as our refuge.

“Goodness . . . stored up” Ps. 31:19–24. God is good. Because of this we can be sure that He has goodness stored up for us who fear Him. For now, we are safe. In the future, we will be doubly blessed.
And so David concluded with a word of exhortation. “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD” (v. 24).

Psalm 32: God Forgives. Old Testament saints as well as New experienced the joy, and the transforming power, of God’s forgiveness. (See DEVOTIONAL.)

Psalm 33: God’s Unfailing Love. Here is a bubbling spring of joy that will never run dry. God loves us—and has shown us love in so many ways.

“Sing joyfully” Ps. 33:1–3. Praise brings joy, for praise focuses our hearts on the Lord.

“His unfailing love” Ps. 33:4–19. What evidences of God’s love are appropriate in David’s—and our own—litany of praise?

• He is faithful, and His Word is true.
• He loves righteousness and justice.
• He created the starry hosts.
• His plans and purposes will come to pass.
• He considers from heaven all men do.
• He watches over those who fear Him, to protect them from disaster.

“We wait in hope” Ps. 33:20–22. Because of these proofs of God’s unfailing love, we wait for Him in hope. And as we trust in Him, joy fills our hearts.

DEVOTIONAL
The Call to Confession
(Ps. 32)
Owning up when we do something wrong really hurts. There’s the shame. There’s the fear that if we confess we’ll be punished. There’s the awful feeling that if we admit we’ve done wrong, we make ourselves vulnerable and lose some important part of ourselves.
Perhaps that’s why Psalm 32 is so important. David, drawing from his own experience, shows us that while confessing to any sin may feel like loss, it is actually gain.
What does David have to share with us? After beginning with the affirmation that the forgiven man is blessed, David goes on to show us why.
Keeping silent is painful (vv. 3–4). Unconfessed sin lodges in our consciences and festers there. Like pus forming under a boil, unconfessed sin creates terrible pressure. Unconfessed sin seemed to sap David’s strength; it felt like a heavy weight pressing down on him.
This is a first, important reason for confession. Unconfessed sin causes sickness in our souls.
Unacknowledged sin is unforgiven sin (v. 5). God is always ready and eager to forgive sin. But He cannot take away our sin until we release it to Him. This is what confession does: it brings our sin into the open; it holds sin up, fully exposed, to God. And then—wonder of wonders!—God does not punish, but forgives “the guilt of my sin”!
Forgiveness restores relationships (vv. 6–7). Sin makes us hide from God. Confession restores us to fellowship so that we can hide in God. With our sins forgiven, we are assured that God will protect us from trouble and “surround [us] with songs of deliverance.”
Restored fellowship makes divine guidance possible again (vv. 8–10). God now is again able to instruct us in the way we should go because we again trust Him and are ready to respond to His leading. We are again sensitive to the Lord, so that He can now guide us gently rather than be forced to jerk us back onto His pathway as if we were some stubborn animal that can only be controlled with bit and bridle.
No wonder David, his restoration now complete, cried out in joy and gladness at this psalm’s end.
What a message for each of us. Unconfessed sin distorts our relationship with the Lord. But when we acknowledge our sin, He not only forgives us, He restores us to intimate fellowship with Him. Once again He leads us in His ways.

Personal Application
If you are troubled with a sense of guilt, joy is only a prayer of confession away.

Quotable
This is the debt I pay
Just for one riotous day,
Years of regret and grief,
Sorrow without relief.

Pay it I will to the end—
Until the grave my friend,
Gives me a true release—
Gives me the clasp of peace.

Slight was the thing I bought,
Small was the debt I thought,
Poor was the loan at best—
God! But the interest!—Paul Laurence Dunbar

THE GOOD HAND OF GOD
Psalms 20–26

“Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes” (Ps. 21:8).

God has blessings for His own. We can claim these blessings now, as well as look forward to the time of Messiah’s glory.

Overview
A prayer for blessing (Ps. 20) and a celebration of blessings received (Ps. 21) are followed by three psalms which span the career of the Messiah (Pss. 22–24). David reminds us that God guides and guards (Ps. 25), as His Word leads us to level ground (Ps. 26).

Understanding the Text
Psalm 20: A Prayer for Blessing. Here’s a guide to extending our “best wishes” to another in prayer.

“May the LORD” Ps. 20:1. David’s trust in God rather than chariots (v. 7) is expressed in his conviction that blessing comes from God. We who share David’s belief will express our best wishes for others in prayers like his (cf. vv. 1–5).

Psalm 21: For Blessings Received. Remembering what God has done for us is a continual source of joy.

Notice the litany of blessings David lists:
“The victories won” (v. 1)
“Desires granted” (v. 2)
“Prayers answered” (v. 2)
“Presence welcomed” (v. 3)
“Crown given” (v. 3)
“Life-forever and ever” (v. 4)
“Glory bestowed” (v. 5)
“Joy in God’s presence” (v. 6)
“Unfailing love” (v. 7)

David, knowing God’s power and sure of his ultimate triumph, knew that these and other blessings were his forever (vv. 8–13).
You and I will do well to follow David’s example and make a list of our own blessings from the Lord.

Psalm 22: The Suffering Messiah. Jesus the Messiah is unveiled in this poetic description of David’s own experience.

“Why have You forsaken me?” Ps. 22:1–8 The opening words of this psalm, quoted by Jesus on the cross (Matt. 27:46), and the clear reflection of Isaiah 53 in Psalm 22:6–7, mark this psalm as a preview of Messiah’s suffering and death.

“They have pierced my hands and my feet” Ps. 22:9–21. Other clear references to the cross are found in verses 16–18.

“All the ends of the earth will . . . turn to the LORD” Ps. 22:22–31. Out of Messiah’s suffering will come praise for the Lord, and those who turn to the Lord will live forever.
Anyone who grasps the horror of crucifixion as a way of execution, or who senses what it must have meant for the holy Son of God to be made “sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21) can see something of Jesus’ emotions the day of His death. Yet by meditating on this psalm we enter much more deeply into the sufferings of Jesus on Calvary.
How good to read on, as we pass the 21st verse to find that what seemed a tragedy was in fact a triumph! Through Christ’s suffering, “The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise Him—may your hearts live forever!”

Psalm 23: Our Shepherd’s Care. Even in the shadow of death David, the Messiah, and you and I, all find comfort in our Shepherd’s care.

Psalm 24: Messiah’s Coming Glory. At history’s end the suffering Messiah will be revealed as the Lord Almighty, the King of Glory.

The shepherd was a familiar figure in Israel, and his love for his sheep was legendary. Day and night the shepherd watched over sheep which he knew individually, by name. The image of God as Shepherd, ever present with His people, remains Scripture’s most comforting picture of the believer’s relationship with his God.

“The earth is the LORD’s” Ps. 24:1–2. One basis for certainty that the Messiah will ultimately be vindicated is the fact that God is Sovereign. The earth, and everything in it, belongs to the Lord.

“He who has clean hands” Ps. 24:3–6. Another basis for certainty is the Messiah’s pure and sinless life. He will surely be blessed by the Lord.

This King of glory” Ps. 24:7–10. A final basis for certainty is the identity of the Messiah. He who comes is actually the Lord, the very King of glory!

Psalm 25: God’s Guidance and Goodness. David had confidence that those who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame. (See DEVOTIONAL.)

Psalm 26: Level Ground. A godly life keeps the believer secure.

“I have led a blameless life” Ps. 26:1–8. The “blameless” life of Old Testament saints was not without sin. It was, however, characterized by a deep inner dedication to God that found expression in a godly way of life. This psalm beautifully describes the attitude which keeps believers of every age from sin.
It is marked by unwavering trust in God (v. 1), and by constant love for Him (v. 3). It is expressed by daily obedience to God’s truth (v. 3), with rejection of the wicked as well as wickedness (vv. 4–5). And trust also finds expression in worship (v. 6) and praise (vv. 7–8).
Such dedication alone can produce that “blameless life” which the psalmist describes as “level ground.”
Why level ground? Much of the Holy Land is steep and rocky, dangerous for travelers whose feet were shod not in modern climbing boots but in loose sandals. It was so easy to slip and fall, so easy to twist an ankle. But level ground was safe for the traveler. And so the image is clear: the one who loves the Lord enough to live a blameless life travels through this life safe and secure.

DEVOTIONAL
Hope and Shame
(Ps. 25)
The ideas of “hope” and “shame” are often found together in the Old Testament. “Hope” is a confident outlook, not because a person knows the future, but because the believer knows God and trusts in His character.
“Shame” is disgrace caused by a failure of some sort which exposes an individual to the ridicule of others. Thus the thought expressed in this psalm is that the one who puts his hope in God will never be exposed to ridicule, because God will never fail him!
What can we expect from God that will deliver us from shame?
First, we can expect God to show us His way, guiding and teaching us by His truth (vv. 4–5).
Second, we can expect God to forgive us, freeing us from the burden of our past and purifying us (vv. 6–7).
Because the Lord is good, He guides the humble into what is right (vv. 8–10). Because He is gracious, He forgives even great iniquity (v. 11).
What does the Lord have for those who experience His forgiveness, and go on to live in His will? There is a prosperity and sense of His presence (vv. 12–15) that remain with us despite loneliness, troubles, and even affliction (vv. 16–19). As we take refuge in the Lord, and live upright lives, we can face the future confidently. And without fear of being put to shame.
What a wonderful God we have!

Personal Application
God guides the forgiven man or woman into a life that is pleasing to Him—a life that never exposes one to shame.

Quotable
“Christianity has never been tried, the cliche runs. And of course it’s true, but so is it true that Christianity has checked the movements of millions of men and women who but for the pull of dogma would know no vital brake upon their behavior. Sometimes the brake is effective, sometimes it is not. But that it should be there outweighs any concern over the excesses of Jimmy Swaggart or the ayatollah or the Mormon extremist or the Venezuelan savage—or the European relativist.”—William F. Buckley, Jr.

A TREASURY OF DAVID
Psalms 13–19

“But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation” (Ps. 13:5).

Seven psalms written by David help us sense the intimate life of prayer and praise which was the foundation of his greatness.

Overview
The believer trusts God (Ps. 13), but wicked men doubt His existence (Ps. 14). Righteous behavior (Ps. 15) and a dedicated heart (Pss. 16–17) bring blessing, for God Almighty saves His own from their enemies (Ps. 18). God declares His glory in creation and in His Word (Ps. 19).

Understanding the Text
Psalm 13: Benefits of Trust. The believer, like others, is vulnerable to despair—but can find peace through prayer.

“Sorrow in my heart” Ps. 13:1–6. David knew times of turmoil and uncertainty. The sense of impending disaster troubled him.
David turned to God and honestly expressed his feelings of impending doom (vv. 3–4). Then David remembered God’s “unfailing love,” and his emotions were transformed. The despair was replaced by rejoicing, and David found himself singing to the Lord (vv. 5–6).
This psalm reminds us that joy is just a prayer away from despair. We can bring our emotions as well as our needs to the Lord. As we focus on who the Lord is, our emotions will be transformed.

Psalm 14: The Fool and God. Evildoers never realize that the path they have chosen has brought them outside the circle of God’s love.

“The fool” Ps. 14:1–3. The Hebrew word, nabal, is a term that describes a person whose heart is closed to God and whose life is characterized by gross immorality (cf. Jdg. 19:23–24; 2 Sam. 13:12; Josh. 7:15). This powerful psalm reflects Paul’s teaching in Romans 1. A person who will not acknowledge God becomes corrupt and does “vile” deeds. The psalm reminds us that no one who closes his heart to the Lord “does good, not even one.”

“Will evildoers never learn?” Ps. 14:4–7 David seemed to shake his head in bemused amazement. Even in this life evildoers live with a sense of dread. How much better off are the poor whom they exploit, who have a refuge in the Lord. God will soon act and “restore the fortunes” of His people.
We should never envy those who exploit us. We have access to God, and will be blessed in the end.

Psalm 15: A Blameless Life. Only the person who lives a righteous life has fellowship with the Lord.

“Dwell in Your sanctuary” Ps. 15:1. In Old Testament times God’s presence with Israel was symbolized in the temple. To “dwell in” that sanctuary pictures intimate fellowship with the Lord.

“He whose walk is blameless” Ps. 15:2–5. This simple description provides a good checklist against which to measure ourselves. And what a promise! “He who does these things will never be shaken.”

Psalm 16: A Heart for God. This beautiful psalm looks beyond behavior to portray the inner life of a man whose heart is filled with God.

“You are my Lord” Ps. 16:1–2. David knew God not just as Lord, but as “my” Lord. Apart from this relationship, nothing he had was “good” (beneficial, of benefit). David then went on to consider those good things which were his through personal relationship with the Lord.

“The saints . . . in the land” Ps. 16:3–4. One good we receive is relationship with others who also know God as “my” Lord. Fellowship with other believers can be a delight.

“You have assigned me my portion” Ps. 16:5–6. The Hebrew says “allotted.” This recalls the Conquest of Canaan, when the land was first divided among the tribes by lot. As God controlled the fall of the lot (like our dice), each family felt that it received its property directly from the hand of God. David used this imagery to convey his belief that God sovereignly gave him his own lot in life.
Each of us can have this joy. For God has placed each of us where we are, and will use us there.

“The LORD, who counsels me” Ps. 16:7–8. Each of us too can experience God’s guidance. When we “set the LORD always before” us, keeping our eyes on Him, always following where He leads, we will “not be shaken.”

“The path of life” Ps. 16:9–11. With the Lord as our Lord, we have security in this life and can look forward to an eternity of joy in God’s presence.

Psalm 17: The Apple of God’s Eye. Confident of God’s great love, the believer chooses righteousness and looks ahead with confidence.

“My righteous plea” Ps. 17:1–5. Those who resolve not to sin can have great confidence in prayer.

“Show the wonder of Your great love” Ps. 17:6–9. We pray because we expect a God who loves us to act.
The “apple of the eye” is the pupil. The image may suggest God’s eyes are constantly on the believer, watching over him. Or it may suggest that God protects the believer, who is as precious to Him as this window of the eye which makes sight possible.

“Like a hungry lion” Ps. 17:10–14. If David looked around, he saw enemies on every side. But when David looked up, he saw God, who “by Your hand” could “save me from such men.”
It does make a vital difference whether you and I look around or look up. Looking around creates fear; looking up brings confidence.

“I will be satisfied” Ps. 17:15. David had awakening from sleep in mind, yet the verse possibly expresses his confident hope of resurrection.

Psalm 18: The Greatness of God. David’s clear vision of God’s awesome power and love remains a source of encouragement for believers today.
This long and beautiful psalm focuses our attention on those attributes of our God which are vital to remember when troubles come.

“I am saved” Ps. 18:1–6. David’s prayers had been answered. God hears and responds to cries for help.

“He parted the heavens” Ps. 18:7–19. Our prayer—answering God is the “Most High.” His past acts of intervention in the world reveal His awesome power.

“He has rewarded me” Ps. 18:20–29. David did not speak in pride, but in praise. God rewards those who seek to live righteous lives.

“Arms me with strength” Ps. 18:30–45. God is a source of constant strength to those who trust Him, and He gives victory to the righteous.

“The LORD lives!” Ps. 18:46–50 The God of history lives today, to save us from our enemies. We serve an all-powerful God who answers prayer, and who does intervene for us when we are in need.

Psalm 19: The Glory of God. God’s glory is revealed in creation, which displays His power, and Scripture, which displays His moral purity.

“The heavens declare” Ps. 19:1–6. God speaks to every human being through creation. Every person has some truth about God, for the universe which displays “His eternal power and divine nature” (Rom. 1:20) shouts out to human beings without speech or language.

“The law of the LORD” Ps. 19:7–14. God’s glory is more perfectly displayed in God’s Word, which reveals His character and provides moral guidance.
The Word offers warning, and promises great reward for those who please God.

DEVOTIONAL
Guidance from the Psalms
(Ps. 15)
I was teaching a short, two-day course at Princeton Seminary’s continuing education center, when I realized how much I did not want to come back the next summer.
Several months earlier I’d said that I would come to teach a two-week summer course. But as I flew east from my Phoenix home, I felt how much I missed my family. And I remembered about all the writing I had to do during those summer months. The thought of two weeks away during the next summer became almost unbearable.
So I decided, the last day of my short visit, that I’d tell the seminary that I just couldn’t make it.
But that morning, my daily psalm “just happened” to be Psalm 15. As I read, one verse seemed to jump off the page and confront me. The blameless man “keeps his oath even when it hurts” (v. 4). I knew then that I had to return.
Usually when I read the Psalms it’s for personal enrichment and/or worship. They lift up my thoughts and my heart to the Lord. But now and then God has a personal word of guidance for me in a psalm. And when God speaks, there’s nothing to do but to listen and obey.

Personal Application
God can give us personal guidance through any passage of His Word. As we read, we need to listen carefully.

Quotable
“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but we must sail, and not drift, nor live at anchor.”—Oliver Wendell Holmes

TAKING REFUGE
Psalms 6–12

“O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save and deliver me from all who pursue me” (Ps. 7:1).

When we sense our weakness, we hurry to take refuge in a majestic God who acts on behalf of those who love Him.

Overview
David, deeply aware of his weaknesses, took refuge in God (Pss. 6–7). God’s creative work (Ps. 8) and His present rule (Ps. 9) gave the psalmist confidence. Victims can find refuge with God the King (Ps. 10), who dispenses justice from His heavenly throne (Ps. 11).

Understanding the Text
Psalm 6: The Cry of the Faint. In deep distress David experienced his own weakness, and cried to God for mercy.

“I am faint” Ps. 6. Many expressions in the Psalms remind us of our frailties. This psalm of David expresses our weakness graphically. David, aware that he had no strength left to face life’s challenges, described his feelings of weakness. His bones were in agony, his soul in anguish. He was worn out from groaning; he flooded his bed with weeping and drenched his couch with tears. His eyes grew weak with sorrow.
These expressions may seem strange coming from a man who boldly faced the giant Goliath and fought fearlessly against Israel’s enemies. But they remind us that there is nothing unmanly about tears, and nothing shameful in feeling helpless. They also remind us that we have complete freedom in our relationship with God to express our feelings to Him honestly.
David’s words also help us understand why he is commended as a man after God’s own heart. David was totally honest with himself and with the Lord. He was realistic about his weaknesses, and honest about his fears. Dishonesty—an attempt to maintain a “macho” image—keeps us from acknowledging our weaknesses. And keeps us from full dependence on the Lord.

Psalm 7: A Call for Judgment. God’s sovereign rule is partly expressed in His judgments on mankind. David called on God to judge (punish) the wicked and to make the righteous secure.

“If there is guilt” Ps. 7:3–5. David did not fear to call on God to judge, for he himself had been careful to do what was right. It’s dangerous to ask God to judge others if we are guilty of their sins!

“Arise, O LORD, in Your anger” Ps. 7:6. The Scriptures do teach the anger of God. But God’s anger is unlike ours. (1) It is provoked by sin and injustice. (2) It is righteous, in that it never overreacts nor is vindictive. (3) It may be expressed in present judgments on sinners, but most often is reserved for the final judgment to take place at history’s end.
David’s call for God to arise in anger and judge is rightly motivated. David did not rejoice at the prospect of the wicked suffering. His concern was to “bring an end to the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.”
We too can call on God to express His anger at the sins in our society. And we can work to implement just laws, intended not to punish so much as to end violence and make the righteous secure.

Psalm 8: God’s Majestic Glory. God’s glory is glimpsed in creation, but is most clearly revealed in the Lord’s amazing decision to love and care for humankind.

“What is man?” Ps. 8:3–5 David was impressed at the glory revealed in creation (vv. 1–3). Yet what stunned him was the realization that God has chosen to be “mindful” of mankind. The word means to pay compassionate attention to.
Secular man scoffs at the notion that earth is any more than a tiny speck in a minor arm of 1 galaxy of 100 million stars in a universe estimated to hold 100 million galaxies! Yet David identified the greatest wonder: God bends down and pays close attention to this particular speck, for it is the home of humanity, and God has chosen to make human beings the focus of His loving care.

“You made him ruler” Ps. 8:6–8. It is to man’s honor and glory that God has made us “ruler over the works of Your hands.” This position implies creation in God’s image, for God is ultimate Ruler of all things.
It’s important to note the distinction between “rule” and “exploit.” Too often people have taken authority as a right to use things or others for one’s benefit. Here “rule” is actually “responsibility to care for” what God has created. Because God exercises loving care over us, permitting mankind to exercise loving care of the creation is a magnificent gift. It is what David here calls crowning “with glory and honor.”

Psalm 9: In Praise of God’s Reign. God is known by His justice. His rule was revealed in the fate of the wicked and David’s enemies.

“You have upheld my right and my cause” Ps. 9:1–6. David praised God, for he saw the defeat suffered by his enemies as evidence that God is sitting on His throne, “judging righteously.” Here David may be remembering the military victories won over surrounding nations, which enabled him to extend Israel’s territory and influence.

“He will judge . . . in righteousness” Ps. 9:7–10. David celebrated the Lord, for he knew God not only reigns forever, but “will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice.”
Christianity is not, as has been suggested, a faith of “pie in the sky by and by.” It is a faith rooted in the conviction that God rules, and will surely judge. The conviction that God rules enables a person who is oppressed or in trouble to find refuge and hope now.
Trust in God may not change our circumstances, but it changes us! The mere fact that we can experience peace despite persecution is the most convincing evidence that God is real.

“The LORD is known by His justice” Ps. 9:16. Those who do not know God by faith will learn of Him later, for God is and will be known by His justice. The moral order of the universe means that the wicked will fall into the pits they dig for others, and their own feet will be snared in the traps they have hidden. Hitler’s Germany illustrates this. By treating others brutally, the Nazis became the cause of their own downfall and a vivid illustration of retributive justice.

Psalm 10: The Psalm of the Victim. Because God takes a hand in human affairs, the victim can commit himself to the Lord as King. See DEVOTIONAL.

Psalm 11: Righteousness Affirmed. The believer can take refuge in God, because God is righteous and will surely punish the wicked.

“The LORD is in His holy temple” Ps. 11:4. This phrase is no call to worship, but pictures God standing in the place of judgment. The psalmist identified the “holy temple” with God’s “heavenly throne,” and said that from it God examines the sons of men.
Because God hates the violence which the wicked perpetrate on the innocent, we can take refuge in Him. Even though the foundations of our society seem to crumble, we can be sure “upright men will see His face.”

DEVOTIONAL
Psalm of the Victim
(Ps. 10)
The Greek philosopher Plato argued that it was better to have wrong done to us than to do wrong. Few today would agree with him. Being a victim seems somehow shameful, weak.
But in Psalm 10, the poet explained far better than Plato ever could why victims are more blessed than persecutors. If at any time you feel like a victim-misused by your boss, by a friend, family, or even by “the system,” this is a psalm you might turn to. If you do you’ll find no prescription for changing circumstances. What you’ll find is a description of what happens inside the perpetrator, and inside the victim.
The perpetrator (vv. 1–11) is described by words like pride, arrogance, and boastfulness. His apparent success feeds these attitudes, and prosperity leads the victimizer to assume he is safe. Others are dismissed as weak, and God either fails to know or doesn’t care.
On the other hand, the victim (vv. 12–15) experiences his helplessness. This leads him to commit himself to the Lord. In his suffering the victim has nowhere to turn but to God.
God, “King forever and ever” (vv. 16–18), hears the afflicted. The Hebrew concept of “listen” implies not only hearing but responding. God as Ruler of the universe will act to judge the wicked and to defend the oppressed.
This psalm of the victim recognizes the fact that injustices may exist for a time. But it reminds us that the people who persecute us do so out of a deadly pride and arrogance, and will surely be punished. On the other hand, being victimized brings us closer to the Lord.
How much better to be a victim who knows God, than a victimizer who scoffs at Him!

Personal Application
The next time you suffer as a victim, thank God that you are not the victimizer.

Quotable
Thrice blest is he to whom is given
The instinct that can tell
That God is on the field when He
Is most invisible.

Then learn to scorn the praise of men
And learn to lose with God,
For Jesus won the world through shame
And beckons thee His road.-F.W. Faber