The King is Coming

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
    I address my verses to the king;
    my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
    grace is poured upon your lips;
    therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
    in your splendor and majesty!

4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
    for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
    let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp
    in the heart of the king's enemies;
    the peoples fall under you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
    The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
    at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
    forget your people and your father's house,
11     and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12     The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
    the richest of the people.

13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
    with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
    as they enter the palace of the king.

16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
    you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
    therefore nations will praise you forever and ever. – Psalm 45:1-17 ESV

This psalm is a love song to the king, written by one the admiring citizens of his kingdom. It is not romantic in nature but is meant to serve as an impassioned endorsement of the king’s moral character and physical stature. This satisfied subject cannot contain his enthusiasm and must sing the king’s praises to all who will listen. 

Beautiful words stir my heart.
    I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
    for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet. – Psalm 45:1 NLT

The psalmist describes the king as physically handsome, gracious in speech, and blessed by God. He is a mighty warrior who fights to defend truth, humility, and justice. Unwilling to use his sovereign power unjustly or for selfish gain, the king mirrors the words of the Proverb.

Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
    his throne is made secure through love. – Proverbs 20:28 NLT

The psalmist sees his king as a faithful vice-regent of God who wisely and righteously carries out the one true King’s divine will. The alliance between God and the king is so strong that the psalmist sees them as inseparable. At one point, he even addresses the king as God.

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil. – Psalm 45:6-7 NLT

He is not ascribing deity to the king but is simply declaring that the king rules in complete submission to God and in keeping with His will. As a result of his godly behavior, the king enjoys the blessings of God. His reign is marked by success because he has the favor of the Almighty.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
    In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. – Psalm 45:7-8 NLT

The psalmist sees the king as an icon of virtue who rightfully enjoys all the perks and benefits of his position. He has been blessed with wealth, a large family, military success, and the adoration of his people. Even as the king prepares to wed his queen, he is dressed in lavish robes and surrounded by the women of his royal court. But the psalmist addresses the queen-to-be, counseling her to leave behind her family and embrace the privilege she has to marry a man who will love and care for her as he does his people.

Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
    Forget your people and your family far away.
For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
    honor him, for he is your lord. – Psalm 45:10-11 NLT

The wedding is described as a beautiful affair, with the king and his new bride becoming one as they are joined together by God. Their union will be blessed by God, producing many sons who “will become kings like their father” (Psalm 45:16 NLT).

This entire psalm has been described as Messianic in nature, foreshadowing the coming of the Son of God, who would be the ultimate King of Israel and the Bridegroom of the church. The apostle John must have had this psalm in mind when he penned his vision of the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:

“Praise the Lord!
    For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice,
    and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
    and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
    For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” – Revelation 19:6-9 NLT

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the author of this psalm was unknowingly prophesying about the coming Messiah, who will one day rule in Jerusalem from the throne of David. He will be the true King who reigns in righteousness and perfectly fulfills the will of His Heavenly Father, just as the author of Hebrews wrote.

And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said,

“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”

Regarding the angels, he says,

“He sends his angels like the winds,
    his servants like flames of fire.”

But to the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
    Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” – Hebrews 1:6-9 NLT

The psalmist never mentions the name of the king he had in mind. This was not an oversight, but the will of the Holy Spirit who inspired this beautiful poem. It was always meant to point to Christ and to serve as a reminder that the ultimate King will one day return to earth and reign in righteousness.

The apostle John describes his vision of “the wife of the Lamb.”

Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. – Revelation 21:9-10 NLT

As the vision continued, John was given a glimpse of this new place where God and man will dwell together for eternity.

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. – Revelation 21:22-27 NLT

Without realizing it, the author of Psalm 45 was describing this future scenario but from an earth-bound, human perspective. He thought he was praising an earthly king, but, in reality, he was picturing an as-yet-to-be-fulfilled scene that God will bring about according to His perfect will.

Your sons will become kings like their father.
    You will make them rulers over many lands.
I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
    Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever. – Psalm 45:16-17 NLT

Father, I am always amazed by the obvious inspiration of Your Word. This psalm, written so many centuries ago was inspired by Your Holy Spirit and contains imagery that points to Your Son as the coming King of kings and Lord of lords. You have always had Your plan in place and have pointed to it repeatedly through the writings of the prophets and pens of the psalmists. This poem, which appears to be written for a long-dead human king, was actually a glowing tribute to Your Son. It serves as a reminder that Your plan has yet to be fully fulfilled, but it will be. Help me to keep my focus on the reality and reliability of Your plan. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

When Circumstances Make Us Circumspect

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
    our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
    in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
    but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
    but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
    nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
    and the light of your face,
    for you delighted in them.

4 You are my King, O God;
    ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
    through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
    nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
    and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
    and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us
    and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe,
    and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
    and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
    demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
    the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
    a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
    and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
    at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this has come upon us,
    though we have not forgotten you,
    and we have not been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
    nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
    and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
    For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
    our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
    Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! – Psalm 44:1-26 ESV

Things don't always go as expected. As God’s people, there is no guarantee that our lives will be trouble-free or exempt from difficulty. The truth is, bad things happen to good people. That is the primary theme of this psalm of lament.

Written by one of the sons of Korah, this psalm begins with a stirring tribute to God’s past faithfulness to His people. The opening lines record how God miraculously delivered the land of Canaan to the people of Israel under the leadership of Joshua.

You drove out the pagan nations by your power
    and gave all the land to our ancestors.
You crushed their enemies
    and set our ancestors free. – Psalm 44:2 NLT

Every Hebrew child grew up hearing about the exciting exploits of Joshua as he led the people of Israel in their conquest of Canaan. They could recite the details of the battle at Jericho, where the “walls came tumblin’ down.” These stories were part of the collective imagination of Israel, passed down from generation to generation to remind them of God’s power and promise-keeping nature. The psalmist freely admits, “We have heard it with our own ears—our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago” (Psalm 44:1 NLT).

These stories had been recorded for posterity in the books of Joshua and Judges, providing proof that God had fulfilled the promise he made to the people of Israel long before they set foot in the land of Canaan.

“I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.” – Exodus 23:27-31 NLT

God had kept His word, fulfilling His promise to provide His chosen people with a land of their own. The former slaves had become the masters of their own domain, thanks to God’s gracious intervention in their lives. Their conquest of the land had not been the result of their superior military might; it had been God’s doing, something the psalmist openly acknowledges.

They did not conquer the land with their swords;
    it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm
    and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
    for you loved them. – Psalm 44:3 NLT

Seeming to speak on behalf of the king, the psalmist proclaims God’s sovereignty and the nation’s continued dependency upon His power for their survival. In the centuries since Joshua led the people across the Jordan River into Canaan, the Israelites remained reliant upon God’s strength for their protection and continued existence.

Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
    only in your name can we trample our foes. – Psalm 44:5 NLT

But something had happened that caused the psalmist to question God’s faithfulness. A national tragedy had left the people wondering whether God had turned His back on them. An unnamed enemy had humiliated the Israelites in battle, leaving them confused and conflicted and questioning the cause of their unexpected defeat. From all appearances, they had trusted in God, and He had let them down.

But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
    You no longer lead our armies to battle.
You make us retreat from our enemies
    and allow those who hate us to plunder our land. – Psalm 44:9-10 NLT

None of this made sense. The psalmist can think of no sin that would have warranted the devastating loss they had suffered. From his perspective, the nation remained faithful to God and undeserving of their humiliating defeat at the hands of their enemy.

All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.
    We have not violated your covenant.
Our hearts have not deserted you.
    We have not strayed from your path. – Psalm 44:17-18 NLT

There was no sin to confess or repent of. The psalmist can think of no instance of corporate immorality or iniquity that would have warranted such an obvious act of divine punishment. This loss had God’s hands all over it. It appeared to be a clear case of God’s judgment, but it seemed to lack justification. They had done nothing wrong. This led the psalmist to accuse God of punishing them unjustly.

You have covered us with darkness and death. – Psalm 44:19 NLT

He knew God to be all-wise and all-knowing. There was nothing that escaped His notice or went undetected. If they were guilty of unfaithfulness or idolatry, God would know it because He is omniscient. Yet, as far as the psalmist could tell, their corporate calamity had been God’s doing — whether deserved or not.

Yet because of you we are killed all day long; we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block. – Psalm 44:22 NET

The psalmist boldly declares his belief that their tragedy was God's doing. He could think of no other logical explanation and this led him to beg God to relent and restore His people.

Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
    Get up! Do not reject us forever.
Why do you look the other way?
    Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression? – Psalm 44:23-24 NLT

This psalm reflects the earth-bound, limited perspective of all believers. We are temporal creatures attempting to understand the ways of God in a fallen world where things don't always make sense. The presence of evil and the experience of pain and suffering it can produce can leave us doubting God’s goodness and questioning His justice. We somehow expect that our faith in Him should exempt us from the trials and tribulations that others suffer.

Yet, the apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth that trials and tribulations were to be expected in this life.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

The Israelites were not exempt from difficulty, and neither were the Corinthians. Life can be hard. Suffering is an ever-present reality for believers and non-believers alike. Paul was well acquainted with that fact, having endured his own fair share of difficulties. He provided the believers in Corinth with a short list of some of his undeserved troubles while serving as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.  Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. – 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 NLT

Paul wasn’t complaining or bragging; he simply reminded his readers that no one is immune from suffering. Jesus Himself suffered and died as part of His faithful adherence to His Father’s will. He was falsely accused, viciously abused, and crucified on a Roman cross, though He was innocent of any crime and completely free from sin.

Paul wrote to Christians living in Rome, reminding them their circumstances were a lousy barometer of God’s love and faithfulness. These new believers were living in the capital city of the Roman Empire and under constant threats from a hostile government that had played a major role in the death of their Lord and Savior. Persecution and suffering were a daily reality but were never to be seen as a lack of God’s love for them.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. – Romans 8:35-37 NLT

Notice that Paul quotes Psalm 44:22. He turns the psalmist’s lament into a statement of praise. Rather than blame God for any suffering we may have to endure, Paul suggests we see it as an opportunity to praise Him for His goodness and grace. He has a plan for us, and He can use every aspect of our lives on this earth to glorify Himself — even through tragedy, heartache, and suffering. That is why Paul told the Corinthians believers to view their present suffering as an opportunity to see God work.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NLT

Father, it’s so easy to let the circumstances of life become the barometer by which I measure Your faithfulness and love. When things are going well in my life, I tend to view You positively. But if one thing goes wrong, I rant and rail about Your apparent disinterest and seeming distance from my life. I judge Your love based on the physical conditions of my life. But You are always loving, faithful, and quick to reveal Yourself — even in the darkest moments of my life. Give me the ability to see You clearly even when life doesn't make sense. Your plan is perfect and Your love for me is unwavering. I know I can trust You, but sometimes life causes me to doubt. Keep me focused on Your faithfulness so I won’t let the seeming failures of life distract and defeat me. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Light in the Darkness

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
    against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
    deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
    why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God. – Psalm 43:1-5 ESV

Psalm 42 begins what is commonly referred to as Book 2 of the Psalms. This section includes Psalms 42 through 72. Some believe Psalm 43 is a continuation of Psalm 43 because it is the only psalm that contains no heading. It also appears to carry on the theme found in the previous psalm. In Psalm 42, the author describes his soul as being “cast down” (Psalm 42:5 ESV). He feels oppressed by his enemies and abandoned by God. He longs to escape the mocking taunts of his enemies and experience a restored relationship with his God and Savior. Though he is disheartened, he remains hopeful that God will vindicate him. Psalm 42 ends with the psalmist practicing a bit of self-motivation intended to draw his attention away from his circumstances and back onto God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.– Psalm 42:11 ESV

Yet, in Psalm 43, the psalmist continues to debate with himself, displaying his difficulty in dismissing the devastating nature of his predicament. He wants to hope in God but can’t help but feel that his prayers for vindication and restoration are going unheard. He describes God as his “safe haven” (Psalm 43:1 NLT), but the conditions surrounding his life remain unchanged and anything but safe. Desperate, he vents his frustration to the only one who can save him.

Why have you tossed me aside?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?– Psalm 43:2 NLT

The psalmist holds nothing back, describing his circumstances as God-ordained and, therefore, inevitable and unavoidable. He feels helpless and at a complete loss as to what to do. He calls out to God but receives no answer. He begs and pleads, but nothing changes.

Yet, God’s apparent delay and non-responsiveness do not stop the disheartened psalmist from crying out for help. He is persistently prayerful and stubbornly hopeful.

Send out your light and your truth;
let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you live. – Psalm 43:3 NLT

Engulfed by the darkness of his circumstances, he longs for the light of God’s glory to break through and provide a clear path back into His presence. His reference to light is reminiscent of the theophany the Israelites experienced as they made their way through the wilderness from Egypt to Canaan. God appeared to them in the form of a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire so they might experience His presence and know He was guiding them day and night.

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people. – Exodus 13:21-22 NLT

God’s presence is always associated with light, representing His glory and majesty. When He appeared on Mount Sinai, His presence was accompanied by fire, lightning, and thunder.

All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.– Exodus 19:18 NLT

When the prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of God’s glory, it was accompanied by indescribable light.

Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me.– Ezekiel 1:26-28 NLT

The apostle John was given a vision of the New Jerusalem, the eternal city where God will dwell with His people on earth. He described it as having “no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23 NLT).

The psalmist longed to be immersed in the light of God’s glory and have the truth about his life exposed. He was confident that he would be acquitted and vindicated by God. That is why he boldly cried, “Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars” (Psalm 43:1 NLT).

Light eliminates the darkness and illuminates the truth. The God who knows all and sees all can shine the light of His glory into the darkened recesses of life and expose the truth. He can take the confusing circumstances of our lives and reveal their God-ordained purpose to bring about good while displaying His glory. Like the psalmist, we may not understand or like what is happening in our lives, but we can trust that God knows what He is doing and has a plan that will one day make sense.

This trust in God’s faithfulness and reliance upon His light-giving nature and truth-revealing power allowed the psalmist to close Psalm 43 the same way he did Psalm 42.

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God! – Psalm 43:5 NLT

Father, You are light and truth. There is no darkness in You (1 John 1:5). Wherever You are, darkness cannot exist. When You speak, truth always prevails. You never lie or fail to keep Your word. But I still struggle with doubt and allow the seeming darkness of life to convince me that Your light has somehow diminished and Your truth has been overwhelmed by the lies of the enemy. Don’t let me lose heart. I don't want to stop hoping and believing in You, but I sometimes feel overwhelmed by life and prone to give in to doubt and despair. When those times come, please continue to reveal Your light and truth to me. Thank you for never giving up on me. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Yet, I Will Praise Him

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God. – Psalm 42:1-11 ESV

This psalm opens with one of the most well-known and beautifully poetic lines in the Scriptures. 

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God. – Psalm 42:1-12 ESV

This simple expression of deep longing for fellowship with God is attributed to the sons of Korah. What makes these beautifully poetic words so significant is the background of the men who wrote them. The sons of Korah were the descendants of a man who led a hostile rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. His mutinous act is recorded in the Book of Numbers

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?” – Numbers 16:1-3 NLT

Korah and his cohorts questioned Aaron’s right to serve as Israel's high priest. These men were jealous, and, as sons of Levi, they declared their right to serve as priests before God. But Moses revealed that their actions were an affront to the LORD. The Korahites already served in God’s Tabernacle, but dissatisfied with their role, they demanded the right to serve as priests.

Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? The LORD is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?” – Numbers 16:10-11 NLT

Moses devised a plan to put down the rebellion that would allow God to settle the matter.

“You and all your followers must come here tomorrow and present yourselves before the Lord. Aaron will also be here. You and each of your 250 followers must prepare an incense burner and put incense on it, so you can all present them before the Lord. Aaron will also bring his incense burner.” – Numbers 16:16-17 NLT

To rally the rest of the Israelites to their cause, Korah spread dissent among the people, and a large crowd gathered to watch the showdown between Aaron and his challengers. But things didn’t turn out well for Korah and his companions.

The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. – Numbers 16:32-33 NLT

God had been ready to destroy all the people of Israel, but when Moses interceded on their behalf, God chose to kill the ringleaders and their families. But He spared the sons of Korah.

…the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, and fire devoured 250 of their followers. This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel. However, the sons of Korah did not die that day. – Numbers 26:10-11 NLT

Despite their father's rebellion, the sons of Korah were given a second chance. God allowed them to continue serving in His Tabernacle, and their descendants would play a significant role in David’s royal administration, serving as warriors and worship leaders.

“…the most remarkable thing to note about the sons of Korah is that during the time of King David, they became the great leaders in choral and orchestral music in the tabernacle. Heman the Korahite had a place of great importance as a singer, along with Asaph (a Gershonite) and Ethan or Jeduthan (a Merarite). These individuals played an important role in the thanksgiving services and pageantry when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. David formed an elaborate organization for song, instrumental music, and prophesying through these men.” – gotquestions.org

So, with that background in mind, the words of this psalm carry even greater weight. These descendants of Korah were intimately familiar with the wrath of God. They had grown up hearing the sordid details of their patriarch’s disobedience and ultimate demise at the hands of the LORD. Yet, they had been graciously spared and allowed to serve Yahweh.

Yet, the author of this psalm displays his anguish at having been separated from his duties and unable to serve in God’s house. Some catastrophic event has prevented him from coming before Yahweh, and this forced separation has left him distraught and deeply troubled.

My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration! – Psalm 42:4 NLT

Yet, even as he wrestles with grief and confusion, he reminds himself that God has not forsaken him. His difficulties cannot truly separate him from his God. He expresses his belief that this momentary light affliction will and he will be restored.

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God! – Psalm 42:5-6 NLT

Even as he suffers, he feels God’s love. His lack of access to God’s house has not diminished his awareness of God’s presence.

…each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life. – Psalm 42:8 NLT

He has moments of despair and doubt. His enemies taunt him and ridicule his faith. But he continues to believe that His God is good and gracious. He relies on his belief in God’s sovereignty and saving power.

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God! – Psalm 42:11 NLT

The fact that this psalm was written by a descendant of Korah makes it all the more remarkable. This man had inherited a legacy of rebellion and knew the consequences of his ancestor’s actions against Yahweh. Yet, he knew that the same God who destroyed his ancestor was loving, gracious, forgiving, and fully capable of restoring him to fellowship. So, even while he still suffered, the psalmist fought off his discouragement with songs of praise and adoration to God. He bolstered his weakened faith with reminders of God’s presence, power, and provision. He fought off the verbal attacks of his enemies with words of affirmation and inspiration that focused on the faithfulness of God.

Father, when times of difficult arrive, it is easy to assume that I am somehow separated from You. It can feel as if You have abandoned me. But like this “son of Korah,” I want to learn to focus on your goodness, greatness, and presence. You have promised to never leave me or forsake me and I want to believe that promise even when my circumstances seem to contradict it. You are faithful and You have never given me a reason to doubt Your presence, power, and provision. You have always come through for me and You always will. I will put my hope in You because You are my Savior and God. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lifting Up Those Who Are Down

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
2 theLORD protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 TheLORD sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.

4 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.

8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!

11 By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen. – Psalm 41:1-13 ESV

At first glance, this Psalm seems a bit disjointed. David starts out talking about the poor and how God blesses those who show kindness to them. Then suddenly, David is confessing his sin and crying out for mercy because of the apparent consequences of that sin. His problem seems to have nothing to do with poverty or need but is due to his own willful sin. However, a closer look at the Hebrew word dar translated as “poor” in verse one reveals that it can mean “one who is low or weak.” It is from the root word dālal, which can refer to someone weak, languishing, powerless, or who has been brought low. So, David is not necessarily talking about poverty as it relates to finances, but he is dealing with spiritual and emotional poverty. His knowledge of this topic comes from personal experience.

His poverty of spirit was real and not based on conjecture. David knew the pain that all too often accompanied sinfulness. Not only did disobedience to God bring divine judgment, but it also brought persecution and ridicule from others. While suffering conviction over his sin, David cried out to God, “Have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you” (Psalm 41:4 NLT). But his enemies kicked him while he was down. They took advantage of his emotional distress and wished for his failure.

David imagined them wishfully crying out, “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” (Psalm 41:5 NLT). Rather than showing him kindness or compassion, they longed for his demise. 

David knew his suffering resulted from sin, and he had confessed that sin to God, but he was still experiencing the consequences of whatever he had done. God’s divine discipline was still going on, and he longed for relief. But his enemies, posing as friends, used their visits with him to gather gossip. They weren't interested in building David up but were intent on destroying what was left of his reputation by spreading salacious rumors.

They visit me as if they were my friends,
    but all the while they gather gossip,
    and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
All who hate me whisper about me,
    imagining the worst.
“He has some fatal disease,” they say.
    “He will never get out of that bed!” – Psalm 41:6-8 NLT

These posers showed no concern for David’s spiritual poverty and did nothing to lift his spirits. Instead, they tried to discern the cause of his condition and debated how long he had to live. They displayed no empathy, compassion, or mercy. Their deep hatred for David prevented them from commiserating with his condition. They never considered the tables being turned and them being on the receiving end of God’s judgment and David’s ridicule.

There is an old proverb that states, “There but for the grace of God go I.” The author of this proverb is unknown, but some attribute it to the English Reformer, John Bradford, who said it as he watched people led to execution for their crimes.

“In a way, the attitude of ‘there but for the grace of God go I’ is an antidote to judgmentalism. When we see someone who is down and out, who is suffering hardship, or who is reaping unpleasant consequences, we can respond in two basic ways. We can say, ‘He deserves it and should have made better choices,’ or we can say, ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ The first response is what Job’s three friends ultimately chose; the second response shows empathy as we acknowledge the kindness of God toward us and extend that kindness to the one in trouble.” – https://www.gotquestions.org/there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I.html

David knows he has done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment from his friends. When the shoe had been on the other foot and David witnessed his enemies suffering, he grieved with them. He even prayed and fasted for them, feeling sadness for their condition “as though they were my friends or family” (Psalm 35:14 NLT). But now that David was down and out, his “friends” became enemies. So, David is left to seek mercy from God.

But what a reminder to those of us who claim to be Christ-followers that we are to have the same heart He had. We are to love like He loved. Jesus said of Himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18-19 NLT).

We are to carry on that ministry to the down and out. The Proverbs of Solomon remind us that our words carry weight. They are powerful and can accomplish good or bring about evil in the lives of others.

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain. – Proverbs 10:11

The words of the godly encourage many. – Proverbs 10:21 NLT

Solomon also warned that “with their words, the godless destroy their friends” (Proverbs 11:9). Rather than cheer and champion their fallen compatriots, the godless tear them down. Solomon went on to record the glaring difference between the words of the godless and the godly.

Some people make cutting remarks,
    but the words of the wise bring healing. – Proverbs 12:1 NLT

We are the hands, the feet, and the mouthpieces for Christ here on this earth. We are to have a heart for the lowly and all those who are languishing, whether it is because of their own sin or the sinful condition of the world in which we live. Some languish in financial poverty, while others suffer the effects of emotional and spiritual deprivation. Either way, we are to bring them words of encouragement and healing. We are to show them mercy and grace. We are to love them with both words and actions.

David knew that extending kindness to the “poor” could be a rewarding experience. To do so was to live a life that was pleasing to God. He rewards those who care for and encourage the down and out. He repays them in kind and “rescues them when they are in trouble” (Psalm 41:1 NLT).

Father, give me a heart for the down and out. Help me to see them all around me. It is easy to see the financially poor, but the spiritually and emotionally impoverished are all around me and they tend to hide their condition well. Don’t let me be like David’s friends, who because of their treatment of him in his time of need, were no better than enemies to him. May I be a true friend to those in need, providing words of encouragement and actions that back up what I say. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Best Advertising is a Satisfied Customer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is the man who makes
    the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
    but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
    in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation.

11 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
    your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
    ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
    beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
    and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
    my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
    O LORD, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16 But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
    say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the LORD takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God! – Psalm 40:1-17 ESV

When was the last time you told someone else what God has done for you? I’m not talking about your salvation story, how you came to Christ when you were seven or eight. I’m talking about telling others how God is actively involved in your life, accomplishing things He can do.

David starts this Psalm by talking about a time in the not-so-distant past when he found himself patiently waiting for help from God. Then he testifies that “he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along” (Psalm 40:1-2 NLT). As a result of God’s gracious intervention, David sang His praises for what He had done in his life. He engaged in an orchestrated public relations campaign for God, boldly proclaiming his miraculous rescue and restoration. His goal was simple: He wanted others to learn from his experience and place their confidence in God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord. – Psalm 40:3b NLT

To ensure that his audience didn’t miss the point, David recorded a very public prayer of gratitude to God that conveyed his belief in God’s trustworthiness.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
    who have no confidence in the proud
    or in those who worship idols.
O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
    I would never come to the end of them. – Psalm 40:4-5 NLT

Too often, the only stories we have of God’s activity in our lives are in the past tense. We can tell how we came to faith in Christ and describe the life-transforming nature of that encounter. We may even recall a time when God answered a prayer or delivered us from a difficult situation. But our stories of God’s active involvement in our lives tend to be few and far between and rarely recent in occurrence.

But for David, God was actively involved in every aspect of his life. The LORD’s actions weren’t sporadic or isolated; they were constant and commonplace. Everywhere David looked, he could see God’s handiwork, and he could stop talking about it.

I have told all your people about your justice.
    I have not been afraid to speak out,
    as you, O Lord, well know.
I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
    I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
    of your unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 40:9-10 NLT

This testimony of God’s love and faithfulness was meant to encourage others, but David also used it to bolster his own trust in God. He knew the future would be filled with ample opportunities to seek God’s help and see His faithfulness played out because sin wasn’t going away and troubles were inevitable.

LORD, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
    Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles surround me—
    too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
    I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
    I have lost all courage. – Psalm 40:11-12 NLT

David knew from experience that difficult days would come, but he also knew that God could and would show up when he called. David viewed his life as a proving ground of God’s presence, power, and provision. When his enemies attacked, David could turn to God for help. When his own sinfulness raised its ugly head, David could seek forgiveness and restoration from the LORD. There was no difficulty or dilemma in David’s future that God couldn’t handle. His life had been a testimonial to God’s presence and power, and he wanted everyone to know it.

…may all who search for you
    be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
    repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”
As for me, since I am poor and needy,
    let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
    O my God, do not delay. – Psalm 40:16-17 NLT

In the middle of this psalm, David draws an interesting conclusion that has far-reaching implications. His testimony concerning God’s faithfulness must be accompanied by a willing obedience to keep God’s commands. It doesn't do any good to go through the motions, offering sacrifices to God and displaying a ritualistic religious fervor that conveys a false sense of piety. David knew that God wanted more than lip service; He desired heartfelt obedience.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
    Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—
    you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, “Look, I have come.
    As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
    for your instructions are written on my heart.” – Psalm 40:6-8 NLT

What makes this passage even more significant is its presence in the Book of Hebrews, where the author quotes it in reference to Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross

…when Christ came into the world, he said to God,

“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” – Hebrews 10:5-7 NLT

According to the author of Hebrews, Jesus understood that obedience to the Father’s will superseded any adherence to the Mosaic Law. While He lived on this planet, Jesus kept the law perfectly and obeyed His Heavenly Father flawlessly. 

When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:7-8 NLT

Jesus became the perfect sacrifice—the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). During His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly testified to God’s presence, power, and provision. He spoke of God’s greatness and goodness and demonstrated God’s power through miracles and messages. But all that would have meant nothing if He failed to do what God had sent Him to accomplish.

David seemed to understand that obedience must accompany obeisance. In other words, feigning worship of God without obeying the will of God is hypocrisy. Testifying to God’s greatness while refusing to do His will isn’t worship, it’s the worst form of duplicity. God spoke of this duplicitous and deceitful charade on the part of His people through the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel.

“These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” – Isaiah 29:13 NLT

“…they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.” – Ezekiel 33:31 ESV

Testifying to God’s greatness while ignoring His will is unacceptable and untenable. David understood that the greatest form of praise was obedience. He was more than willing to sing God's praises, but he also wanted to do God’s will.

I am convinced that many more people would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if the followers of Christ had more to say about Him. If we had more to share about what He has done in our lives lately and how Christ is transforming our lives daily, it would give credibility to our claims regarding the value of salvation. So many unbelievers are asking, “What has God done for you lately?” If they asked you that question, what would your answer be? What would you tell them? David gives us some not-so-subtle hints:

I have told all your people about your justice.
    I have not been afraid to speak out… – Psalm 40:9 NLT

I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
    I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
    of your unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 40:10 NLT

David knew first-hand what it was like to have God intervene in his life and rescue him from trouble, forgive him of sin, provide him with victory, heal him from sickness, and restore him to a right relationship with Himself. David knew that a relationship with God was not all about doing things for God to somehow keep Him satisfied and earn brownie points with Him. No, God wants His followers to take joy in doing His will because they have experienced His faithful, unconditional love and want to express their gratitude through obedience and submission to His will for their lives – because they know He loves them and has their best interests in store.

David said about God, “Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them” (Psalm 40:5 NLT). David had much to say about God because God was an active and vital part of his life. Can the same thing be said of us? If we tried to recite all the wonderful things He has done for us lately, would we run out of time before our list ran out?

David called on God because he expected God to act. David waited on God because he was confident God would respond. David told others about God because he had plenty of stories of God’s faithfulness to tell. He said, “May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, ‘The Lord is great!'” (Psalm 40:16b NLT). Maybe we have little to say about God because we so seldom turn to God for help and hope.

Oh, the joys of those who trust in the LORD. – Psalm 40:4a NLT

Father, the problem is not that You are silent in my life, it is that I don’t recognize and appreciate Your activity. I don’t see it, so I don’t acknowledge it. You are working all the time on my behalf, but I tend to be blind to it. I also don’t turn to You enough in times of trouble and trust You for deliverance. I try to solve all my own problems. In doing so, I rob You of glory and deny myself the opportunity to see Your power on display in my life. I want to be a greater witness for You by being more satisfied by You. I want to sing Your praises more and tell everyone I meet of all Your wonderful acts. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Getting Right With God

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will guard my ways,
    that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3     My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “O LORD, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6     Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
    man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 “And now, O LORD, for what do I wait?
    My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
    with rebukes for sin,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
    surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
    a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    before I depart and am no more!” – Psalm 39:1-13 ESV

The title of this psalm mentions a choirmaster named Jeduthun. His role and identity are not explained, but according to 1 Chronicles, Jeduthun was an appointee of David who served as a musician in his royal court.

David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “his faithful love endures forever.” They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers. – 1 Chronicles 16:41-42 NLT

As choirmaster, Jeduthun was responsible for turning David’s psalms into musical tributes to God designed to express gratitude for His faithful and never-ending love. But this psalm doesn’t seem to give Jeduthun much to work with because it is more of a lament than an expression of thanksgiving. In it, David freely voices his frustration over a less-than-pleasant circumstance he was going through. Some have suggested that David was experiencing serious health issues that threatened his life. Evidently, David believed his condition was tied to a sin he had committed, and his suffering was the result of God’s discipline.

I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath. – Psalm 39:9-11 NLT

David was clearly frustrated by the lingering effects of his condition and wondered out loud how long God would delay providing deliverance. In a sense, David saw his life passing before his eyes, reminding him of its brevity. He acknowledged God as the life-giver and sustainer, and begged to know how long his suffering would continue. For David, death would be preferable to a lingering illness and a life under the disciplining hand of God. 

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
    Remind me that my days are numbered—
    how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
    My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
    at best, each of us is but a breath.” – Psalm 39:4-5 NLT

Despite his difficulty, David had chosen not to complain about his circumstances in the hearing of men — especially the ungodly. He knew that to do so would cast dispersions upon God’s grace and goodness, so he remained silent. But that didn’t eleviate the emotional turmoil inside his head and heart.

But as I stood there in silence—
    not even speaking of good things—
    the turmoil within me grew worse.
The more I thought about it,
    the hotter I got,
    igniting a fire of words… – Psalm 39:2-3 NLT

When David finally spoke up, he took his grievance to the Lord, expressing his thoughts to the one who could do something about it. But instead of complaining, David asked God for perspective. His questions concerning the length of his life were meant to seek clarity. While he felt like his current condition would never end, he knew his life was nothing but a breath to God. It was here one moment and gone the next. This is less an expression of pessimism than an acknowledgement of God’s eternality and man’s temporal state.

David asked God to help him keep his life in proper perspective, never forgetting that eternity is our future, not this temporary condition we call life. In God’s grand scheme, our lives are but a breath, a fleeting moment on the eternal timeline. Yet, we put all our emphasis on the here and now and forget about the hereafter. We spend all our time rushing around, attempting to accomplish things that only end in insignificance. We work hard to accumulate wealth and then end up having to leave it behind when we go.

It’s easy to see where David’s son, Solomon, got the perspective on life he shared in the book of Ecclesiastes.

For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun? – Ecclesiastes 6:12 NLT

I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. – Ecclesiastes 2:18 NLT

Solomon also shared David’s perspective on wealth.

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless – like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:4 NLT

But long before David wrote this psalm, he decided to place his hope and trust in God. He owed his life to God, and without Him, David would have remained a shepherd herding sheep rather than serving as the king of Israel. Whatever David was going through, he knew it had passed through the hands of God. David viewed his condition as God-ordained and, therefore, he took his problem to the source. He believed his punishment was due to sin and knew that only God could forgive him and relieve his suffering.

In verse 8, David asks God to “pluck him out of” his sin, to deliver him from his own transgressions. He knew that only God could bring relief from the pain he was suffering. So he asks God to hear his cries, to restore his joy, and to give him relief so that he might spend whatever days he has left in a right relationship with Him.

Isn’t that what this life is all about? It isn’t the accumulation of toys and the gaining of fame. It isn’t about comfort and ease, earning and spending, competing and winning. It is about the joy of a right relationship with God, something money can’t buy. When we are not right with God, nothing will make sense or satisfy our longing for peace, joy, contentment, and purpose. Nothing can make life right except getting right with God.

Father, what a wonderful reminder that life is all about living for You and with You. The pain and suffering we experience is nothing more than a reminder of our dependence upon and need for You. Keep me focused on You and nothing else. May I desire a right relationship with You more than anything else in the world. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Sin, Sorrow, and Confession

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand has come down on me.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
    because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
    like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and fester
    because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
    all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
    and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
    I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
    and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
    and my nearest kin stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
    those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
    and meditate treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
    like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
    who boast against me when my foot slips!”

17 For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
    I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good
    accuse me because I follow after good.

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD!
    O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation! – Psalm 38:1-22 ESV

We are not told what David’s sin was, but he clearly articulates what he believes to be the consequences for that sin. David is suffering greatly, both physically and emotionally. He sees his circumstances as directly related to his sin and as a rebuke from God. Crying out to God, he says, “Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me – it is a burden too heavy to bear” (Psalm 38:3-4 NLT).

David clearly understands that sin has consequences and that God, because He is just, must punish sin. There is discipline involved when sins are committed. As children of God, we are not allowed to sin freely and without repercussions. If we belong to God, our sin produces guilt. His Spirit convicts us of our sin and creates within us those same feelings that David had. He speaks of God’s rebuke and discipline. He uses words like crushing, broken, grief, crushed, anguish, and pain. And he attributes it all to his “foolish sins” (Psalms 38:5 NLT).

Speaking of this conviction of sin, C. H. Spurgeon states, “God’s law applied by the Spirit to the conviction of the soul of sin, wounds deeply and rankles long; it is an arrow not lightly to be brushed out by careless mirthfulness, or to be extracted by the flattering hand of self righteousness” (C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David – Volume 3)

David could not escape God's loving discipline by simply finding something to distract him. He could avoid it for a time, but his unconfessed sin would continue to haunt him, leaving him longing for relief. Conviction is designed to lead to confession. If conviction is ignored, it will only lead to continued sorrow. It will eat away at you from the inside out.

My guilt overwhelms me—
    it is a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and stink
    because of my foolish sins. – Psalm 38:4-5 NLT

That’s why confession is so important. It is the anecdote for conviction, guilt, and shame. John reminds us, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9 NLT). In Psalm 38, the word that David uses, which is translated as “confess” in the New Living Translation, is actually the Hebrew word for “tell or declare.” He claims to avow, acknowledge, or confess the sins for which he has been convicted. He gets them out in the open with God. The truth is, God already knows what David has done and is only waiting for David to acknowledge or confess his guilt. He must openly admit and agree with God that what he has done is wrong. Spurgeon says that this process of confession is therapeutic and healing.

”Open confession is good for the soul. When sorrow leads to hearty and penitent acknowledgment of sin it is blessed sorrow, a thing to thank God for most devoutly. I will be sorry for my sin. My confession will be salted with briny tears. It is well not so much to bewail our sorrows as to denounce the sins which lie at the root of them. To be sorry for sin is no atonement for it, but it is the right spirit in which to repair to Jesus, who is the reconciliation and the Saviour. A man is near to the end of his trouble when he comes to an end with his sins.” – C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David – Volume 3

But an essential part of confession is sorrow. David states, “I am deeply sorry for what I have done” (Psalm 38:18 NLT). Confession without sorrow is nothing more than regret or remorse. You may regret your sins because they have produced pain and discipline, but that is not what God is looking for. Confession as a means of escaping coming punishment is not enough. There must be sorrow for the sin we have committed and not just sorrow for the discipline our sins have incurred. A child may express sorrow for something he has done, but it may be motivated by a desire to escape further punishment. It might have nothing to do with sorrow for having offended his parents. The same can be true with us.

In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul mentioned another letter he had sent that addressed a sin with which they were struggling.

I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. – 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT

The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience is intended to lead us away from sin and result in salvation. David was deeply sorry for his sins. He confessed them to God and asked for forgiveness and restoration. He knew only God could bring the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing he needed. He cried out to God, “Do not abandon me, O LORD. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord may savior” (Psalm 38:21-22 NLT).

David’s pain and sorrow were real. His suffering was intense, and so was his desire for relief. But David knew that confession must precede restoration. He needed to own what he had done and recognize that his pain and suffering were a just and righteous consequence for his disobedience to God. God was not being vengeful or vindictive. David’s suffering was not an overreaction on God's part. The punishment fit the crime, and David knew it. But he also knew that his only hope for relief and restoration was in God.

Do not abandon me, O LORD.
    Do not stand at a distance, my God.
Come quickly to help me,
    O Lord my savior. – Psalm 38:21-22 NLT 

Father, they say confession is good for the soul, and nothing could be more true than when it comes to sin in the life of a believer. When we sin, the Spirit convicts our soul and creates in us a holy discontentment and discomfort. Like David, we grow increasingly unhappy with our condition, feeling guilt and shame for what we have done. But You are simply using that conviction to lead us to confession, in order that You might forgive and restore us. Give us an increasing hatred for sin and a willingness to acknowledge its presence in our lives as soon as it shows up. Help us respond quickly to the Spirit’s prompting and confess our sin with godly sorrow because we have offended You, our heavenly Father and holy God. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Don’t Worry About the Wicked

A psalm of David.

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous
    and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
    and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
    when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the LORD upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice;
    he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
    and dwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.

32 The wicked watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power
    or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him. – Psalm 37:1-40 ESV

It’s hard not to worry about the wicked. They’re all around us. Many of them are in positions of power and influence in our country. Others are considered celebrities and stars. They write books, have their own TV shows, create music and art, and define what is in when it comes to everything from clothing to hairstyles. The wicked come in all shapes and sizes, and their wickedness is not always readily apparent or easily recognized. They seem to live lives marked by success, happiness, affluence, and popularity. So it’s sometimes easy to envy or desire to be like them. But David tells us not to worry about the wicked or to covent their lifestyles, because their days are numbered. Yet, we often find ourselves getting angry over the apparent lack of justice in a world where the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer.

Some of these people prosper despite lifestyles marked more by sin than anything else. David reminds us that “it is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich” (Psalm 37:16 NLT). To drive the point home, David provides a running contrast between the wicked and the godly. He paints a clear and memorable picture of the stark difference between these two lifestyles.

The wicked will soon fade.
But the godly will find shelter in Him.

This life is temporal, and its rewards are fleeting and ephemeral. While the wicked may appear to enjoy the good life in this life, they face a future judgment. The righteous may suffer in this life, but they have the assurance of God’s presence, protection, and provision — right here, right now.

The wicked will soon wither.
But the godly will never slip from His path.

Things are not always what they seem. What appears to be prosperity and unbridled success is often accompanied by discontentment and dissatisfaction. Wealth and fame cannot immunize anyone from disease, disappointment, or death. The wicked can hide behind the temporal trappings of worldly success, but their sins will find them out (Numbers 32:33). Yet, the righteous will find security and safety in this life by faithfully following the ways of God.

The wicked will be destroyed.
But the godly will be rescued by God.

The wicked stand opposed to God, and He has a way of holding them accountable for their actions. Their present prosperity and seeming immunity from justice will not last. God will have the last word when it comes to their eternal judgment. In the meantime, the righteous must maintain their confidence in God and trust that His eternal reward is far greater than any temporal treasure or pleasure a life of wickedness may offer.

The wicked will disappear.
But the godly will trust in the Lord and do good.

Leave the fate of the wicked up to God. He knows what He is doing and is not fooled by the deceitful ways of those who ignore His will and reject His sovereignty. Their cleverness and covertness make them feel invincible, but their fate is sealed. Nothing is hidden from the eyes of God and no sin goes unpunished. So, rather than worry about the wicked, the righteous need to spend their time doing what pleases God.

The wicked will be gone.
But the godly will never fall.

The righteous must maintain an eternal perspective. This life is not all there is. We are eternal creatures who have a long future ahead of us. This present life is just a blink of the eye in God’s plan for His children’s prosperity. While there will be trials and tribulations in this life, the one to come will be free from sin, suffering, sorrow, and loss. 

The wicked plot against the godly.
But God will take care of the godly because they are innocent.

This world is not always fair, and things don't always turn out how we think they should. But God is in control at all times, and His ways are always just and righteous — even when circumstances paint a very different picture. Because we are finite creatures living in a temporal world, we can't see the big picture. Present pain has a way of clouding our future perspective. But we must rest in knowing that God sees all and knows all. He has a firm grasp on what is going on in His world and has a flawless plan to mete out justice and reward the righteous — in His time.

The wicked snarl at them in defiance.
But God will expose the justice of the cause of the godly.

The prosperity of the wicked won't last forever. It may appear that they get away with murder and escape any form of justice, but God is not done yet. We can’t see what He is doing behind the scenes, but we can know that He will leave no sin unpunished and no wicked individual free from His judgment. 

The wicked draw their swords and string their bows.
But God is the fortress of the godly.

The wicked may appear to be powerful and unstoppable. Their string of victories over the righteous seems endless, but they are no match for Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts. They may win their fair share of battles, but the war between the righteous and the wicked has already been decided. 

The wicked kill the poor and oppressed.
But the godly live in peace and prosperity.

Despite all the injustice and inequities in this world, those who place their hope and faith in God can rest assured that He is with them and fights on their behalf. They are not alone and far from defenseless. Yes, evil exists, and atrocities happen, but that does not mean God is powerless or impotent. His ways are not our ways. His methodologies may confuse and confound us, but we must trust that He always knows what He is doing and His ways are always just, righteous, and good.

The wicked slaughter those who do right.
But the Lord directs the steps of the godly.

There are two opposing forces at work in the world. Satan, the prince of this world, has aligned himself against all that is good, righteous, and godly. He and his demonic minions stand in opposition to God and pour out their hatred on His children. The wicked of this world are in Satan’s grip and do his bidding, but their actions are limited by the sovereign power of God. As they do their worst, God is directing the steps of His people, guiding, protecting, and blessing them even as the enemy attempts to destroy them.

The strength of the wicked will be shattered.
But the godly will be taken care of by God.

Give God time. Let Him finish what He began and complete the plan of redemption He put in place before He laid the foundations of the world. Our victory is assured. The future is secure. God’s plan has an end, and the outcome has never been in question.

David continues his comparison between the wicked and the godly, pointing out the glaring differences between the two.

The wicked will die.
But the godly will possess the land.

The wicked will disappear like smoke.
But the godly will never be abandoned.

The wicked borrow and never repay.
But the godly give generous loans to others.

The children of the wicked will die.
But the children of the godly are a blessing.

The wicked wait in ambush for the godly.
But God will honor the godly by giving them the land.

The wicked look for an excuse to kill the godly.
But God teaches the godly right from wrong.

The wicked will not succeed.
But the godly will live safely in the land and prosper.

The wicked will be destroyed.
But a wonderful future awaits the godly.

The wicked will appear to flourish, then are gone.
But the godly will not be disgraced in hard times.

The wicked have no future.
But a wonderful future awaits the godly.

David wasn't a glass-half-full, perpetual optimist who refused to acknowledge the disparities and difficulties of life. He was painfully aware of the presence of the wicked. He struggled with their apparent success and seeming immunity from judgment. But he trusted God and knew that justice would be served. The wicked would get what they deserved and the godly would be blessed — in time and according to God’s perfect plan.

As believers, we are to put our hope in God. We are to confidently and faithfully trust the path He has chosen for us to follow and not worry about what might appear to be the unfair advantages of the ungodly. God is just, and He will deal with them in His own way and time. I can leave them in God’s hands and concentrate on honoring Him with my life and trusting Him with my future. He will not let the wicked succeed or the godly be condemned. He has it all under control. So don’t worry.

Father, thanks for this timely reminder from the pen of David. The wicked have always been around and they have always given Your people cause for consternation and concern. They appear so happy and so together. They seem to be getting away with their lifestyle of open rebellion to You, but You are not done yet. You are a just and righteous God who will make sure that all things are taken care of rightly and justly. They will not escape Your notice or Your judgment. I can leave them in Your hands and rest in the knowledge that You have me securely in Your loving grasp as well. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Dark and Light

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
    before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
    he sets himself in a way that is not good;
    he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O LORD.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise. – Psalm 36:1-12 ESV

In this Psalm, David compares the wicked with God. Both are realities in his life. As the king of the nation of Israel, David is surrounded by enemies – both within and without. He could witness and experience firsthand the attitudes and actions of the wicked as they interacted with him daily. Of course, David seems to be using the literary device of hyperbole to make his point about the wicked  – but only slightly. He speaks of their hearts being filled with wickedness. He describes them as being so blinded by pride that they are oblivious to their sinfulness.

In their blind conceit,
    they cannot see how wicked they really are. – Psalm 36:2 NLT

They display no fear of God, and everything they say and do is perverted by their own sin so that they are incapable of doing anything good or wise. Their wickedness is so pervasive that it inhibits their sleep and produces a non-stop obsession with wickedness. 

They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
    Their actions are never good. – Psalm 36:4 NLT

David imagines them lying awake at night, dreaming up evil things to do the next day. From his perspective, it’s as if they couldn’t stop doing evil even if they wanted to. While much of this is exaggerated, there is a certain degree to which it is true. Those who do not know Christ and have a relationship with God through Him are controlled by sin. They are slaves to sin (Romans 6:19). They are incapable of doing what is right or righteous in God’s eyes. This doesn’t mean they are incapable of doing anything good, but that the good they do will never earn them favor or merit in God’s eyes. Isaiah put it this way: 

We are all infected and impure with sin.
    When we display our righteous deeds,
    they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
    and our sins sweep us away like the wind. – Isaiah 64:6 NLT

So, in a way, David was right. The wicked – those who do not believe in God – are incapable of doing anything good. They are controlled by and enslaved to sin.

But then, David addresses the other reality in his life: God. While the wicked were always present in David’s life, so was God. Yahweh was a constant and consistent source of strength, encouragement, hope, and help. David describes God’s unfailing love and mercy, His unbelievable steadfastness or faithfulness, His justice and righteous judgments, and His ever-present salvation, care, provision, and protection. David describes God as the “fountain of life, the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:9 NLT). God not only gave us life, but He graciously maintains and sustains it. He makes every breath we take and every second we live on this earth possible, which is true for the righteous and the wicked.

God provides us with light so that we can see. In Hebrew, verse nine literally translates as, “In thy light we see light.” David is saying that it is only in the illuminating presence of God’s glory that we gain the capacity to see things as they really are. The wicked can’t see their own wickedness. But when we stand in the light of God’s glory, our sinfulness is exposed by His glory. The prophet Isaiah had just such an experience. 

I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
    The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Isaiah 6:1-5 NLT

Peter had a similar experience when he first witnessed Jesus performing a miracle. He and his companions had fished all night and caught nothing. But Jesus commanded them to go back out and cast their nets one more time. Unused to taking fishing advice from a Rabbi, Peter reluctantly obeyed, and what happened next would be a life-changing experience for him.

…this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. – Luke 5:6-7 NLT

Stunned by the results and convinced that Jesus was more than just a Rabbi, Peter “fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man’” (Luke 5:8 NLT). In the light of Jesus’ glorious presence, Peter saw the depth of his own depravity. He experienced the truth of John’s words, which opened up his gospel account.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:1-5 NLT

John goes on to say, “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him” (John 1:10 NLT). The Light of the world came into the world to dispel the darkness, but those who lived in the world rejected Him. They didn’t want their darkness exposed. They didn’t want the Light to illuminate and eliminate the wickedness they had grown to love. Yet John writes, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13 NLT).

David was intimately familiar with the wickedness of man. He had experienced its pervasive presence in his own life. But he also knew that God was righteous and just. His ways were pure and free from any hint of wickedness. He could be trusted because He was always trustworthy. David had discovered God's faithfulness to be immeasurable and inexhaustible. God’s love was unfailing, and His mercy was unwavering. David would not allow the presence of the wicked to diminish his trust in God because he knew the Light would conquer the darkness. The wicked were no match for “the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:9 NLT).

With David, we can say, “Pour out your unfailing love on those who love (know) you; give justice to those with honest (righteous) hearts” (Psalm 36:10 NLT). We have had our darkness exposed, our sins forgiven, and our hearts transformed by the Light of the world. We were once just like those David describes in the opening verses of this Psalm. But because of the grace, mercy, and goodness of God, we have been given a second chance. We have experienced the truth of the prophecy first spoken by Isaiah and recorded by Matthew in his gospel account.

“…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” – Matthew 4:16 NLT

We have drunk from the river of delights, sheltered in the shadow of His wings, and fed from the abundance of His house. We have been enlightened and transformed by the life-changing power of God’s glorious presence, and while the wicked may prosper, they will never prevail. 

Father, we are surrounded by those who love darkness more than light and wickedness more than righteousness. But we used to be the same way. And we would still be that way if it were not for the gracious gift of Your Son. May we learn to love the Light and increasingly appreciate how it exposes our own sin. You are always transforming us into the likeness of Christ and that takes the exposure of our sin nature. It isn’t always fun to see, but it’s a necessary part of the transformative process. Thank You for Your patient, loving care for us. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

In Times of Trouble, Turn to God

A psalm of David.

1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
    and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
    against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
    “I am your salvation!”

4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor
    who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
    who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
    with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

7 For without cause they hid their net for me;
    without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
    let him fall into it—to his destruction!

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD,
    exulting in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say,
    “O LORD, who is like you,
delivering the poor
    from him who is too strong for him,
    the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

11 Malicious witnesses rise up;
    they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good;
    my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick—
    I wore sackcloth;
    I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14     I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
    I bowed down in mourning.

15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
    they gathered together against me;
wretches whom I did not know
    tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,
    they gnash at me with their teeth.

17 How long, O Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their destruction,
    my precious life from the lions!
18 I will thank you in the great congregation;
    in the mighty throng I will praise you.

19 Let not those rejoice over me
    who are wrongfully my foes,
and let not those wink the eye
    who hate me without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace,
    but against those who are quiet in the land
    they devise words of deceit.
21 They open wide their mouths against me;
    they say, “Aha, Aha!
    Our eyes have seen it!”

22 You have seen, O LORD; be not silent!
    O Lord, be not far from me!
23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication,
    for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God,
    according to your righteousness,
    and let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts,
    “Aha, our heart's desire!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
    who magnify themselves against me!

27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad
    and say evermore,
“Great is the LORD,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
    and of your praise all the day long. – Psalm 35:1-28 ESV

This is a difficult psalm to read because to contains harsh language that seems out of place and inappropriate for a child of God. It is one of four imprecatory psalms in which the writer asks God to pour judgment out on his enemies. The words are vindictive in nature and don’t seem to fit in with the New Testament concept of loving your enemy and turning the other cheek. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught a new way of treating one's enemies.

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:44-48 ESV

In his account of this same sermon, Luke records Jesus delivering yet another rule-bending lesson on enmity with one’s enemies.

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” – Luke 6:27-31 ESV

Yet, in Psalm 35, David calls down curses from God on those who oppose him. He asks God to destroy them. So what are we supposed to do with this information? Are we to use this Psalm as a pattern for our own prayer lives? Does the content of this psalm provide us with a pattern for responding to those who oppose us or try to do us harm? I think the answer is no.

The real lesson of this psalm is that life can be difficult. Even David, the king of Israel and the man who was known as a man after God’s own heart, found himself facing trying situations. He had been falsely accused, unjustly attacked, and was under constant threat of betrayal from both within and without. He minced words in expressing the actions of his enemies.

Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me;
    turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. – Psalm 35:4 NLT

I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.
    I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me. – Psalm 35:7 NLT

Malicious witnesses testify against me.
    They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.
They repay me evil for good. – Psalm 35:11-12 NLT

It seems unlikely that David exaggerated his claims or used hyperbolic language. The threats against him were real, and he was legitimately concerned for his well-being.

We must never forget that David was writing as the king of Israel. He was the anointed, God-appointed leader of the nation and was responsible for opposing all those who stood against God and His people. David’s job as king was to defeat the enemies of Israel and defend the people of God. As the king, he represented God and was the primary target for attack by all those who refused to acknowledge Yahweh as the one true God. David was obviously frustrated, fearful, and weary of the constant attacks on his leadership and person. He was tired of all the false accusations and clandestine attempts to dethrone and defeat him. Unable to hide his frustration with the ill treatment he received from those he had shown mercy and grace, David cried out to God to turn the tables and give these individuals a taste of their own medicine.

The key to understanding this Psalm is not based on what David asks to be done but on who he asks to do it. David was the king, and he could have taken matters into his own hands and given these people exactly what they deserved. He was a warrior and had a powerful army at his disposal. He was the ultimate judge in the land and could have enacted judgment and meted out justice as he saw fit. David was fully capable of solving all these problems in his own way. But instead, he called out to God.

O LORD, oppose those who oppose me.
    Fight those who fight against me.
Put on your armor, and take up your shield.
    Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. – Psalm 35:1-2 NLT

Wake up! Rise to my defense!
    Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
Declare me not guilty, O LORD my God, for you give justice. – Psalm 35:23-24 NLT

He appealed to the ultimate judge of all men and asked Him to act as his advocate and protector. This psalm is brutally honest and paints a clear picture of David's pain and frustration. It provides an accurate glimpse into the life of this man who tried to love and serve God all his life. He shared his heart with God, honestly opening up about his feelings. He holds nothing back. But in the end, David placed all of his pain, frustration, and confusion in the hands of God. He knew the solution to his problems could only come from one source: The LORD. He understood that victory over his enemies would be up to God and that the timing and nature of that victory might differ from what he desired.

Ultimately, his rescue and release from his trials would be up to God, who was fully aware of his suffering and capable of doing something about it. So he asked God to come to his defense, take up his case, and declare him innocent. David was willing to wait on God. Yes, he struggled with what appears to be God’s apparent delay in answering, but he waited nonetheless. He gave God his cares and concerns and trusted Him to do the right thing. Why? Because he knew that “Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing his servant with peace? (Psalm 35:27 NLT).

Father, life can be hard. People can be difficult. Sometimes I am tempted to take matters into my own hands in an attempt to solve my problems. But help me to turn to You instead. You are my advocate, protector, and rescuer. You know what is best and You always do what is right. May Your Spirit give me patience as I wait and an overwhelming sense of peace as I contemplate Your love, justice, mercy, and power. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Goodness of God

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. – Psalm 34:1-22 ESV

The goodness of God. We read about it, hear sermons about it, and are encouraged to believe in it. But the truth is, sometimes doubts about God’s goodness set in when trouble shows up. We may find it easy to sing, “God is so good,” but in times of trouble, we question the validity of that statement. We wonder whether God will come through for us. We waffle and waver in our belief that God has our best interest at heart, and then we try to take care of the problem on our own.

David had moments like this, and Psalm 34 was written after such an experience. He found himself at odds with King Saul. Things were so bad that the king had tried to kill David with his own hands. Then, when the king’s own son, Jonathan, questioned his actions, Saul tried to kill him as well. So, David was forced to run from Saul and go into hiding. This was a difficult time because he had to leave everything he knew and loved behind. Doubt and confusion plagued David as he considered his unexpected circumstances. He had been anointed by Samuel the prophet to be the next king of Israel, and God had given him a great victory over Goliath, the Philistine warrior. In recognition of his defeat of Goliath, Saul made him a member of his court, where David gained a reputation as a mighty warrior. He even married the king’s daughter and became best friends with his son. Now, he was running for his life. None of this must have made sense to David. He must have questioned the goodness of God.

In his fear and panic, David sought refuge from Saul in the city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath, the Philistine he had killed with his sling and a stone. It’s unclear what David was thinking when he made this less-than-ideal decision, but it reveals the depth of his despair and fear of Saul. The Book of 1 Samuel provides the details behind David’s arrival in the Philistine stronghold.

So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath. But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing,

‘Saul has killed his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands’?”

David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.

Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?” – 1 Samuel 21:10-15 NLT

David knew he was in trouble, so to save himself, he devised the idea of feigning insanity. His ploy was effective because the king of Gath allowed David to leave unharmed. David ended up hiding in a cave in the wilderness, where he was joined by his family and other disenchanted and disenfranchised individuals who were chaffing under the reign of King Saul. It was sometime during this period of David’s life that he penned Psalm 34.

At this challenging moment of his life, David exhibited doubts about the goodness of God. He allowed his circumstances to influence his belief in God’s inherent goodness and unfailing love. Even though he had been chosen by God and anointed as Saul’s successor, David had a hard time comprehending any good coming out of all that was happening to him. He could not see the hand of God behind the difficulties he was experiencing. So he panicked and came up with his own plan. But David would learn that God is good – all the time.

It is only through our experiences that we truly discover the goodness of God. As a result of his experience in Gath, David would discover that “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time” (Psalm 34:19 NLT). This wasn't pious-sounding rhetoric but the words of a man who had experienced the truth of this statement in his own life. This difficult situation proved to be life-changing and faith-building, leaving David a changed man with a dramatically altered outlook on God’s goodness.

I will praise the LORD at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises. – Psalm 34:4 NLT

In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles. – Psalm 34:6 NLT

Taste and see that the LORD is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! – Psalm 34:8 NLT

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17 NLT

Those are the words of a man who has discovered the truth about God’s goodness. He is not speculating or trying to convince himself that God might show up; he has seen the goodness and greatness of God in real time and can’t help but sing about it.

I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt his name together. – Psalm 34:1-3 NLT

David would have plenty of times in his life when things would make no sense. There would be more than a few occasions when he found himself under attack, overwhelmed, out of his league, and down on his luck. But he would learn to trust God and endeavor to share this life-changing lesson with others.

Fear the LORD, you his godly people,
    for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing. – Psalm 34:9-10 NLT

David’s fateful trip to Gath had threatened his life, but it also ended up strengthening his reliance upon God. His unwise decision put him in a dangerous predicament, but it also provided God with a chance to prove His goodness and power to provide for His own.

David was learning to rely on God’s goodness. No matter what he encountered along the way, he knew God would hear his cries for help and rescue him out of trouble. God would meet all his needs regardless of what was happening to him. This assurance in God’s goodness led David to write:

The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken! – Psalm 34:19-20 NLT

Through life's experiences, David learned the reality and reliability of God’s goodness.

Father, You are good. You have never shown Yourself to be otherwise in my life. There have been plenty of times when I have doubted it and, like David, I have come up with my own solution to my problems. But my plans always prove to be a bad substitute for Your goodness. Continue to teach me to trust You regardless of what I see happening around me or to me. Troubles are going to come, but so is help, because You are good. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Praise Him Because You Can Trust Him

1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
    Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the LORD is upright,
    and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
    he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
    let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
    he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
    and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you. – Psalm 33:1-22 ESV

While the author of this psalm is unnamed, the men who translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek (the Septuagint) believed David to be its source. It has all the hallmarks of David’s literary style. The majority, if not all, of the first 72 psalms were attributed to David because of the last line of Psalm 72: “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended” (Psalm 72:20 ESV). 

This entire psalm is a song of praise to God, declaring His righteousness, justice, faithfulness, and love. In lyrical prose, God is portrayed as a just and righteous judge, the all-powerful creator of heaven and earth, the sovereign Lord over the nations, and the merciful Savior of His chosen people. From His vantage point in heaven, God looks down on the world He made and the people to whom He gave life, justly judging their behavior and carrying out His will for their lives.

The LORD looks down from heaven
    and sees the whole human race.
From his throne he observes
    all who live on the earth.
He made their hearts,
    so he understands everything they do. – Psalm 33:13-15 NLT

Despite the plans of men and the machinations of the nations, God’s “plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken” (Psalm 33:11 NLT). His will cannot be thwarted. His sovereign strategies for His creation can be resisted but never overthrown. 

The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations
    and thwarts all their schemes. – Psalm 33:10 NLT

This psalm is a powerful reminder of God’s invincible power and indomitable will. He can be doubted, rejected, ignored, and dismissed as irrelevant or nonexistent, but He will never be defeated or dethroned. Even the most powerful armies in the world are no match for Jehovah-Sabaoth: The LORD of Hosts. He is the all-powerful Sovereign commander of all the armies of heaven and earth.

The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
    nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
    for all its strength, it cannot save you. – Psalm 33:16-17 NLT

Since the beginning of time, mankind has attempted to overthrow His Kingdom and supplant His authority over their lives. But their efforts have consistently failed, and His will has always been done. 

No human wisdom or understanding or plan
    can stand against the Lord.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
    but the victory belongs to the Lord. – Proverbs 21:30-31 NLT

These reminders of God’s glory and greatness are intended to produce hope and faith in the lives of His people. His unwavering power, providence, provision, and protection are meant to instill trust among “those who fear him” and “rely on his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18 NLT).

We put our hope in the Lord.
    He is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name. – Psalm 33:20-21 NLT

Do you trust God? I mean really trust Him? If we’re honest, we have to admit that there are many things in our lives that we either refuse to trust God with or fear trusting to His care. But David reminds us that we can trust God with anything and everything. After all, He made everything in the universe, from the solar system to the earth itself. He created the land, the oceans, and all life, including you and me. He is greater than the most powerful nation on the planet. He can easily frustrate their best-laid plans and bring to nothing all their schemes for glory and power. And this powerful God loves righteousness and justice and is determined to see that it is carried out in the world He created.

However, the key to comprehending and appreciating the power and justice of God is to have a right relationship with Him. David knew that the Hebrew people had been chosen by God, not because of anything they had done or because they had earned His favor. No, God had chosen them and made them His own. He had blessed them with His presence and prospered them with His power, often despite their own stubbornness and stupidity.

So when David considers the greatness and the graciousness of God, he can’t help but say “Sing for joy to the LORD!” (Psalm 33:1 NLT). He tells us to praise and rejoice in God because HE has chosen us. We are to fear, honor, and respect Him and dutifully rely on His unfailing love. We are to put our hope in Him, understanding that He alone is who we can trust. Only God can save. Only God can rescue. Only God can deliver. So we put our trust in Him.

Hope is anticipatory and eagerly expectant because hope is based on truth – the reality that God is faithful, powerful, merciful, and fully capable of accomplishing His will on our behalf. Hope flows from a knowledge of His unfailing, unceasing, unquenchable love for us. He loves us. We belong to Him, and He will not abandon or forget about us. We can trust Him to do what is just and right on our behalf, even when we might not understand or like what is going on at the moment. We can praise Him preemptively because we KNOW He will come through for us eventually.

Father, I praise You now for what You are going to do, not just for what You’ve already done. Your grace and mercy to me is guaranteed by Your own character. Your love for me never fails. Your power on my behalf is never limited. So I can praise You now for what You have yet to do. Because You will always do what is right and just. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Joy of Forgiveness

A Maskil of David.

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
    they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
    or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! – Psalm 32:1-11 ESV

This is a didactic psalm, one that is intended to share a hard-learned life lesson with others. In this psalm, David uses his personal experience with sin, confession, repentance, and forgiveness to encourage others to follow his example. He describes the joy that comes with living openly and honestly with God.

“…what joy for those
    whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,
    whose lives are lived in complete honesty! – Psalm 32:2 NLT

At the same time, David shares the far more painful experience of refusing to admit his guilt. Failure to repent results in the easily avoidable discipline of God.

When I refused to confess my sin,
    my body wasted away,
    and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. – Psalm 32:2-4 NLT

David provides only two alternatives when it comes to dealing with sin: Confess and receive God’s gracious forgiveness or stubbornly refuse God’s conviction and bear the consequences. For David, the choice was a simple one.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
    and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
    And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. – Psalm 32:5 NLT

David used his life experiences as a teaching tool, hoping to spare others the painful lesson of trying to deny their sin and ignore their guilt. That way of life was unproductive and painful. Yet, the unpleasant consequences of unrepentance could be avoided by heeding David’s gracious advice. In a prayerful aside to God, David offers his desire that all men could discover the joy of confession and forgiveness. 

…let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
    that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. – Psalm 32:6 NLT

Turning back to his human audience, David begs them to heed his words.

Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
    that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control. – Psalm 32:9 NLT

Stubbornness is not a virtue. An unwillingness to admit guilt is not the same thing as innocence. Denying one’s sin does not make it go away. Refusing to accept God’s conviction does nothing to avoid condemnation. David offers the choice between sorrow and joy, suffering and blessing, denial and divine forgiveness.

One of the sad realities of human life is sinfulness. It is unavoidable and inevitable. We have inherited a sin nature, and it shows up uninvited and without warning on a regular basis in all of our lives. Sometimes, our sins are small and appear relatively harmless. Other times, even we are appalled at the extent of our own capability to commit sins that are offensive to most men, let alone God. Our sinful natures are constantly doing battle within us, fighting with the indwelling influence of the Holy Spirit. Paul put it this way:

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. – Galatians 5:17 NLT

The battle within us is real, and the presence of our sinful nature is easy to recognize. We see it in the sins we commit daily, both sins of commission and omission. We don’t do the things we should do, and we do those things God has forbidden us to do. But here is the good news: God is fully aware of our sinful nature. He knows that we are sinners, so He sent His Son to serve as our sin substitute.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

God has set us free from slavery to sin. We no longer HAVE to sin, because we have been given a new nature. He has provided His Spirit to indwell us, fill us, and empower us to live a life that is no longer sin-saturated, but Christ-centered. We now have the capacity to NOT sin. We can say no to sin.

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. – Romans 6:6-7 NLT

But the truth is, we still sin because we still have three things contending against us: Satan, the world, and our own sinful natures. John reminds us, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (1 John 1:8 NLT). So sin is still inevitable but avoidable. When we do sin, there is hope. We have forgiveness available to us. We need only confess or admit our sin to God, and He offers complete forgiveness. Confession is not telling God something He doesn’t already know about us. He knows everything. He sees all our sins. Confession is agreeing with God on the presence of that sin in our lives and acknowledging our need for His forgiveness. David said, “I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt” (Psalms 32:5 NLT). The Hebrew word for “confessed” is yada, and it carries the idea of both knowing something and making it known. As God makes us aware of our sin, we are encouraged to agree with HIs assessment and acknowledge our guilt to Him. That is confession.

Attempting to hide or deny our sin is ridiculous because God already knows all about it. When we refuse to confess, we miss out on His forgiveness. As part of His sanctifying process in our lives, God is always exposing our. He shines the flashlight of His divine omniscience into the dark recesses of our lives to point out the unconfessed sins that reside there. When He reveals our sins to us, all He asks is that we acknowledge or confess their presence to Him and ask for His forgiveness. The good news is that is exactly what we receive. David says, “what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalms 32:2 NLT).

David loved the forgiveness of God because he knew how much he needed it. He was a sinner just like you and me. He didn’t always do what God wanted him to do, and he sometimes did those things God didn’t want him to do. But David knew the reality and blessing of confession and forgiveness. So, he reminds us to live a life of confession as well.

David knew that God guides and directs His children on how to live. Part of that process requires the exposure of the sin in our lives so that we might be made aware of it and then confess it to Him. It is for our own good. To refuse to see it, acknowledge it, and admit it would make us like a senseless horse or mule that needs the pain of a bridle and bit to make it do what it is supposed to do. Confession is meant to be comforting because it leads to forgiveness. It frees us from guilt, restores our relationship with the Father, and brings us joy. So why wouldn’t we confess our sins readily and regularly?

Father, I confess to You that I do not confess often enough. I sometimes try to ignore my sins as if they are not that great. But I know that I need to see them and confess them to You. They are a constant reminder to me of my need for You. I cannot cleanse myself. I cannot sanctify myself. I cannot get rid of my sin by myself. Only You can remove the sin that remains within me. Only You can conquer the sin nature that still does battle with me daily. So I want to learn to confess more regularly and readily, so that I might enjoy the blessing of Your forgiveness.. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Hope in the Lord

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
    but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief;
    my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
    and my bones waste away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
    especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
    terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your steadfast love!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
    for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
    which speak insolently against the righteous
    in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
    which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
    in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
    from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
    from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
    when I was in a besieged city.
22 I had said in my alarm,
    “I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
    when I cried to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful
    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord! – Psalm 31:1-24 ESV

Why do we fear? Why do we worry and doubt? When we serve a mighty God who loves us like He does, what would ever cause us to distrust or doubt Him? The simple answer is that we are weak and sinful. In our limited understanding, we know of no one or nothing as strong as God is. We have no experience with anyone as reliable and trustworthy as He is. Yet, we tend to judge God based on human standards and our own limitations. If we truly believed God was all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, would we fear and doubt dominate our lives like they do? 

Over the course of his life, David had learned to turn his bouts with doubt into opportunities to see God display His power, grace, and mercy. He came to God for protection, salvation, and encouragement. He viewed God as his “rock of refuge” and “strong fortress” (Psalm 31:2 ESV). In times of trouble, David had learned to run to the One who could provide safety, comfort, guidance, and deliverance.

This Psalm seems to have been written amid a time of crisis. David found himself in the middle of a difficult season of life in which some sin he had committed had left him discouraged, despondent, and deeply depressed. He doesn’t elaborate on the circumstances or disclose the nature of his indiscretion, but he painfully describes his troubled emotional state.

Tears blur my eyes.
    My body and soul are withering away.
I am dying from grief;
    my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
    I am wasting away from within.
I am scorned by all my enemies
    and despised by my neighbors—
    even my friends are afraid to come near me. – Psalm 31:9-11 NLT

Whatever sin he committed left him feeling attacked from within and without. His guilt weighed heavy on his heart, and the scorn of his friends and enemies deepened his discouragement and despair. The rumor mill had generated all kinds of salacious gossip and motivated his enemies to take advantage of his diminished popularity and weakened position. He was vulnerable and feeling exposed.

But while David was feeling down and out, he didn’t feel abandoned by God. He knew he could find refuge and rest in the arms of his loving, faithful, and all-powerful God.

But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me. – Psalm 31:14-16 NLT

David had learned that Yahweh was a reliable and trustworthy source of strength and sustenance to all those who feared Him and placed their trust in Him.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
    safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
    far from accusing tongues. – Psalm 31:20 NLT

David could praise God in the midst of the current storm because he had experienced Yahweh’s deliverance in the past. David used God’s track record of divine deliverance to bolster his faith.

He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
In panic I cried out,
    “I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
    and answered my call for help. – Psalm 31:21-22 NLT

Recalling God’s past actions helped to strengthen David’s resolve and led him to declare, “Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24 NLT).

It seems that a big part of the journey for Christ's followers is to learn to trust God more and to fear life less. In this Psalm, David seems to ebb back and forth between a strong confidence in God and a wavering doubt. He says, “Save me, for you do what is right” (Psalm 31:1 NLT). He calls God his rock and his fortress and talks of His unfailing love and mercy. But then, David seems to change tones because he faces the daily reality of living in a fallen world. He has to confront wickedness and the influence of sinful people who make it hard to live the life of faith. There is a constant battle between trusting God and living amid difficult circumstances, constantly attempting to shake our faith in Him.

Knowing and serving God does not guarantee us an easy road or a life free from difficulty. It promises us a God who loves us enough to care about what is happening to us and is powerful enough to do something about it. David seemed to know that from experience. Despite his difficulties, he turned to God. He knew where the source of his help and hope was to be found — in God alone. David states confidently, “But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, ‘You are my God!’ My future is in your hands” (Psalm 31:14-15a NLT). All David had to do was remember the countless times God had rescued him before. God had proven Himself faithful in the past, and David knew God would prove Himself faithful in the future. He could be trusted because the Lord preserves the faithful.

Father, thank You that You can be trusted. And because You can be trusted, I can be brave and strong. May my courage increase daily as I learn to rely on and trust in You. May I increasingly learn to put my hope in You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Deeply Dependent

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:1-12 ESV

David wrote this Psalm as a song to be sung at the dedication of the Temple – an event he would never live long enough to personally witness. But the words of this Psalm reflect David's heart toward his God. He loved God and had a desire to worship and honor Him with his life. He recognized God's hand in his life over the years and had a unique vantage point to look back and put his life in perspective. He could see the countless times God had rescued him from his enemies. He could recall the many times he had called out to God in sickness or weakness, and God had answered with healing and strength. There had even been occasions when David’s life hung in the balance, and God restored him.

You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
    You kept me from falling into the pit of death. – Psalm 30:3 NLT

He remembered the many times in his life when his actions had angered God, but he also recalled how God quickly extended mercy whenever he repented.

For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
    but joy comes with the morning. – Psalm 30:5 NLT

David could vividly recall the sleepless nights when he was in tears because of hopelessness and helplessness. But morning always seemed to bring joy and a sense of peace because God was there.

Then there were those times when all was going well in David’s life. His world was trouble-free, and this idyllic state produced a false sense of security.

When I was prosperous, I said,
    “Nothing can stop me now!”
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
    Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. – Psalm 30:6-7 NLT

In those moments, David tended to get cocky and begin to take himself a little too seriously. He became dangerously independent from God – an ever-present danger for God’s people. David could probably recall the words Moses spoke to the people of Israel as they prepared to enter the land of promise for the very first time.

“Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God…” – Deuteronomy 8:11-14 NLT

David knew he had been guilty of not heeding this warning. In the good times, he had tended to take credit for his successes and ignored his need for God’s power and provision. Bolstered by his achievements, David proudly proclaimed, “Nothing can stop me now!” He was invincible, or so he thought. In retrospect, David realized that it was only the favor of God that allowed him to prosper and thrive. If God ever removed His unmerited favor, David’s seeming successes would quickly become glaring failures. David spoke from personal experience, having repeatedly discovered the truth behind the Proverb: “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 NLT). In those moments, David cried out to God to protect him from self-destruction. 

 I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
“What will you gain if I die,
    if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
    Can it tell of your faithfulness?” – Psalm 30:8-9 NLT

Whenever we get brash and bold enough to believe that we don’t need God, He allows us to understand what that kind of life will look like. Prosperity without God’s presence is joyless, meaningless, and in the end, a waste of time. Success without God’s favor is like eating cotton candy; it tastes great but provides no long-term value for sustaining life.

At those moments when David realized he had begun to take himself too seriously and God too lightly, he repented and cried out for mercy. He begged God to forgive him and restore Him. “Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD” (Psalm 30:10 NLT). Those are words that our heavenly Father loves to hear from His children. He longs to be there for us, to help us, protect us, give us direction, and lovingly provide for us.

David knew from experience that God was always there to pick him up when he was down, to meet needs he couldn’t meet, to win battles he had no strength to fight, let alone win, and to forgive him when he repented. God is faithful in replacing our sadness with joy. All He asks is that we replace our independence with dependence and our self-sufficiency with a total reliance upon Him. When we do, we will be able to say along with David, ” O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!” (Psalm 30:12b NLT).

Father, forgive me for my arrogant independence. Far too often i want to live my life my way and take credit for the successes. But then I want to turn around and blame You for the failures. May I grow increasingly more aware of just how much I need You for everything in my life. And may I never forget that I can take no credit for anything good that happens in my life. It is all a result of Your good favor. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Worthy of Praise

A Psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the LORD, over many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
    the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
    the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
    the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
    the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people!
    May the LORD bless his people with peace! – Psalm 29:1-11 ESV

How do you honor someone you can’t see? How do you recognize and rejoice in the greatness of an invisible God? That has always been a problem for the people of God. Abraham and Moses had private conversations with God. Abraham even caught glimpses of God’s glory in the burning bush, and Moses was allowed to see God’s back as he passed by him on the mountain. A handful of God’s people have had supernatural glimpses of God’s glory. For the rest of us, we are left with the task of trying to honor and adequately ascribe to God the glory He so richly deserves.

For David, it was pretty simple; he saw God all around him. When he looked into the night sky and saw all the stars and planets, he saw God's hand.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them? – Psalm 8:3-4 NLT

The heavens reflected God’s glory. After Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel, David spent years running from King Saul and hiding in the wilderness. While sitting in the mouth of a cave in the middle of the rugged mountain landscape, he saw more than his fair share of storms. As he witnessed the lightning flash across the night sky and occasionally strike a tree, shattering it in two, and as he listened to the thunder echo off the canyon walls, shaking the ground beneath his feet, David couldn’t help but think of God. To him, the thunder was the very voice of God.

The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
    the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. – Psalm 29:5 NLT

The voice of the Lord strikes
    with bolts of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. – Psalm 29:7-8 NLT

The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
    and strips the forests bare. – Psalm 29:9 NLT

His use of anthropomorphic language was an attempt to describe God’s incomparable power. The thought of God speaking was enough to cause David to stand in awe. Seven times in this passage, David refers to God’s voice. He knew that God had spoken the world into existence. He recognized that God’s words carried weight and the sound of His voice was more powerful than the most potent lightning, capable of bringing great destruction or incredible blessing.

David was a king, and he understood the concept of power. He knew that the king’s word was law, but he also knew that, as a man, his power was limited, and his voice only carried so much weight. However, God’s voice was limitless in power, and He alone deserved glory and recognition on the part of both angels and men that He alone was worthy of worship.

Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
    honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. – Psalm 29:1-2 NLT

David begins this Psalm by encouraging men and angels to give to God honor for His glory and strength. As far as David was concerned, all beings were to recognize God’s unparalleled majesty and worship Him accordingly. God alone is King. His voice is powerful, and He is worthy of our worship and praise.

This dramatic imagery of God’s thunder-like voice shattering trees and shaking mountains almost portrays Him as unapproachable and inaccessible. It is reminiscent of the language Moses used to describe God’s appearance on Mount Sinai in the wilderness.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. – Exodus 19:16-18 NLT

The people of Israel stood at the base of Mount Sinai and gazed up at this spectacular demonstration of Yahweh’s divine glory.

“You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice.” – Deuteronomy 4:11-12 NLT

And this unforgettable pyrotechnic display made an impression on them.

When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. – Exodus 20:18 NLT

They feared Yahweh’s power and presence. His awe-inspiring demonstration left them shell-shocked and begging Moses to protect them from God's wrath.

“You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” – Exodus 20:19 NLT

But Moses assured them that they had nothing to fear.

“…for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” – Psaelm 20:20 NLT

God wanted His people to know that He was to be feared but for the right reasons. He was glorious and great and worthy of praise. He was powerful and capable of dispensing judgment on the disobedient and unrighteous. But He wanted to bless His children, not destroy them.

That is why David ends His Psalm with a comforting thought.

The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace. – Psalm 29:10-11 NLT

This same glorious, powerful, majestic God gives His people strength and blesses them with security. David knew that it wasn’t he and his mighty men who protected the people of Israel – it was God. God gave them the strength to face their enemies and withstand adversity. It was God who blessed them with peace (shalom). For David, peace was not just an absence of conflict but a sense of completeness and an awareness of well-being and security in adversity.

When a thunderstorm strikes, it’s an opportunity to think about God. As the lightning flashes across the sky, it provides a visible demonstration of God’s glory and greatness. These meteorological displays are God-ordained reminders of His power and worthiness of our awe and wonder. They should remind us of His greatness and cause us to give Him the glory He so richly deserves.

Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. – Psalm 29:2 NLT

Father, Your power is all around us, but we fail to recognize it. We just see nature, but we don’t see the God behind it. Give me the eyes of David. Help me to see You all around me. Let me recognize Your presence in all of life. I want to worship You and honor You for who You are. I want to grow in my awareness of Your power and glory. Open my eyes so that I might see You more clearly each day. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Hope Shines Eternal

A Psalm of David.

1 To you, O LORD, I call;
    my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
    I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the LORD!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever. – Psalm 28:1-9 ESV

In this Psalm, David’s pleas for God’s intervention seem far more immediate and intense. The dangers he faces are imminent, and he feels a desperate need for Yahweh’s assistance. He acknowledges God as his rock, his place of refuge in the storm. Whatever the nature of his predicament, David feels death is a real possibility. He mentions going down to “the pit,” a thinly veiled reference to the grave. This is not a case of hyperbole or exaggeration; David is legitimately concerned about his well-being and cries out to God for help.

Listen to my prayer for mercy
    as I cry out to you for help,
    as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary. – Psalm 28:2 NLT

David is looking for protection and vindication. He believes his suffering is undeserved and his enemy’s attacks are unprovoked. He describes them as wicked and doers of evil. They are duplicitous con-artists “who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts” (Psalm 28:3 ESV). Their deeds are evil, and “they care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what his hands have made” (Psalm 28:5 NLT). And David doesn’t hesitate to express his opinion about what God needs to do.

Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
    Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
    Give them a taste of what they have done to others. – Psalm 28:4 NLT

David isn’t just looking for deliverance; he wants divine retribution and demands that God mete out justice on his enemies. It’s clear from his language that David is agitated and upset.  While he prays in the “holy sanctuary” (Psalm 28:2 ESV), his enemies plot his demise. They are destructive by nature and show little regard for “the works of the LORD or the work of his hands” (Psalm 28:5 ESV). This may reference David’s kingship, the Tabernacle, or the city of Jerusalem. Whoever these people are, they show a blatant disregard for God’s will, as expressed through David’s reign and personified in the royal capital. Perhaps these enemies were posing a threat to Jerusalem. If so, David viewed this as a direct attack on the will of Yahweh. He firmly believed that any attempt they made to harm the Israelites or their capital city would fail because God would “tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt!” (Psalm 28:5 NLT).

In verses 6 and 7, David expresses his firm confidence that God will hear his prayer and respond. He displays no hint of doubt or disillusionment about God's ability to step in and solve his problem.

Praise the LORD!
    For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and shield.
    I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
    I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. – Psalm 28:6-7 NLT

For David, his rescue was as good as done. He could praise God before it happened because he knew the answer was forthcoming. David could joyfully sing and thank God even while the problem remained unresolved. It was just a matter of time, and it wasn’t a question of if God would answer, just when and how. David’s confidence in God was high, and so were his hopes for deliverance. Yahweh had a long and proven track record with David, and this history of faithfulness led David to trust even in the face of uncertainty and overwhelming odds.

The Psalms are filled with testimonies about God’s faithfulness. These admissions of confidence in Yahweh’s power and provision are intended to inspire faith among His people.

The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:6-9 NLT

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:4 NLT

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:11 NLT

As David expresses in the 23rd Psalm, his trust in God’s ability to deliver him saw him through the darkest moments of his life. 

Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me. – Psalm 23:4 NLT

The valleys were normal parts of life, and days of darkness were to be expected. But David knew he could count on God to protect and comfort him even when things took a turn for the worse. David didn’t have a Polyanna, rainbows-and-unicorns perspective on life that demanded a trouble-free existence. He was a realist and knew that difficulties were normal and not anomalies. Life could be challenging, and enemies were to be expected. But, at the same time, God could be trusted to show up when His children needed Him. As another Psalmist so eloquently put it, the worst circumstances cannot prevent God from doing what is best for His children.

God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! – Psalm 46:1-3 NLT

David believed this with all his heart and ended his Psalm with a final plea for God to save His people.

The LORD gives his people strength.
    He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.
Save your people!
    Bless Israel, your special possession.
Lead them like a shepherd,
    and carry them in your arms forever. – Psalm 28:8-9 NLT

The darkness of his surroundings didn’t prevent David from seeking the light of God’s goodness and glory. He would put his hope and trust in the One who had always shown up before. Because God had never let David down, David would continue to look up and expect God to show up.

Father, it is so easy to allow the circumstances of life to determine my view of You. When things don't go as expected, I can begin to doubt Your presence, goodness, love, and power. I can question Your faithfulness and begin to fear the worst. But You’ve never failed me or abandoned me. If anything, You’ve shown up in ways I never could have expected and produced results I didn’t deserve. While I doubted, You delivered. When I feared, You proved Yourself faithful. Would you help me to live with the same perspective David had? I want to praise you even before the answer comes. I want to trust You even when the darkness keeps me from seeing You. I believe, but help my unbelief. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Waiting on God

A Psalm of David.

1 The 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?

2 When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

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

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

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

6 And now my head shall be 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.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

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

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:1-14 ESV

David begins his Psalm by acknowledging his unwavering trust in God. Despite the pervasive presence of enemies and the constant threat of difficulties, David knew he could rely upon God. He describes Yahweh as his light and salvation. Amidst the darkest days of his life, David viewed God as the rays of the sun at dawn, eliminating the shadows and uncertainties that accompany the night. The apostle John echoed David’s assessment of God’s illuminating nature.

God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. – 1 John 1:5 NLT

For both men, God was the epitome of sinless perfection. Wickedness and darkness were con-conspirators. Nothing good happens in the dark, which, according to the Book of Proverbs, makes it the perfect metaphor for the wicked.

But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
    They have no idea what they are stumbling over. – Proverbs 4:19 NLT

The apostle John described Jesus as a light shining in the darkness (John 1:5 NLT), but went on to say, “But people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” (John 3:19 NLT). According to John, those who love evil “hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed” (John 3:20 NLT).

The apostle Paul shared this contempt for deeds done in darkness.

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. – Ephesians 5:11-14 NLT

It was the light of God’s glory that provided David with a sense of confidence and calm even in the darkest moments of his life. Fear of man was replaced by faith in God.

Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident. – Psalm 27:3 NLT

But David was realistic. He knew his enemies' threats were real, and God was his only source of hope. Without Yahweh’s intervention and vindication, he could be overwhelmed by their wicked desires. But David wanted more from God than rescue; He desired a relationship. He longed for God to teach him and not just bail him out of trouble. He wanted God to lead him, not just provide him with a trouble-free life. David seemed to understand that the trials of life were there to help him turn to and trust in God. They were opportunities for him to see God work. So he prayed to God. He put his confidence in God. He looked to God as his source of strength and protection. He knew God would provide him with salvation as well as direction. So he was willing to wait patiently on Him. And he could encourage others to do the same. 

Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14 NLT

Prayer and patience are two things that don’t come easily for most of us. We may pray regularly, but we wait impatiently for God’s answers to appear. We don’t like to wait. We have difficulty understanding God’s delays, especially when we’ve already told Him what we want Him to do. What could He be waiting for? Why doesn’t He just fulfill our request just like we shared it? However, David’s confidence in God was based on his understanding of His character. Amid difficulty, David could experience rest and a lack of fear because he knew that God would save and protect him. If he found himself surrounded by the enemy and even under attack, he would not fear but remain confident because he could trust God.

David had learned to take his needs to God. His greatest desire was to spend time in God's presence and experience the light of His glory and grace.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
    Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8 NLT

But for David, spending time with God was both inspiring and instructive. He knew that communion with God provided him with insight into living righteously even when surrounded by the unrighteous.

Teach me how to live, O Lord.
    Lead me along the right path,
    for my enemies are waiting for me. – Psalm 27:11 NLT

Waiting on God’s answer had become second nature to David. The circumstances surrounding him were only significant in that they provided him with an opportunity to trust God and spend time in communion with Him. They offered the chance to talk to God personally and intimately. While he waited for his answer, he continued to spend time with God, and he refused to let delays in getting his answer dissuade him from trusting in God’s goodness.

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
    while I am here in the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13 NLT

God is faithful. Like a shepherd who lovingly holds his sheep in his protective arms, God carries and cares for us. He is our source of strength, safety, security, and salvation from anything and anyone that comes against us. So why should we be afraid? Why should we become impatient?

Father, what a great reminder of who You are. My fear and impatience are nothing more than a reflection of my own doubt and ignorance of who You really are. I see my troubles as greater than You are. I see my circumstances as too much for You to handle. When I fear and doubt, I am casting dispersions on Your love and faithfulness. I am saying You either won’t or can’t save me in my time of need. But You are always faithful and loving. Help me to wait patiently and confidently in You. Help me to be brave and courageous because of the reality of who You are. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Illusive Life of Integrity

A Psalm of David.

1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
    test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,
    nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
    and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
    redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
    in the great assembly I will bless the Lord. – Psalm 26:1-12 ESV

There are times when David comes across as a bit full of himself, and this Psalm is a case in point. He begins by asking God to affirm his innocence, and as proof, he makes some rather bold claims.

I have acted with integrity;
    I have trusted in the Lord without wavering… – Psalm 26:1 NLT

For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
    and I have lived according to your truth.
I do not spend time with liars
    or go along with hypocrites.
I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,
    and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
    I come to your altar, O Lord – Psalm 26:3-6 NLT

The first half of this Psalm reads like a transcript from a trial, with David, the accused, standing before the Judge’s bench and declaring his innocence. Facing false accusations from unnamed sources, David is desperate to have God examine the facts of the case. Despite the damaging allegations leveled against him, David remains confident that God will acquit him of all wrongdoing. 

As proof, David asserts his seemingly sterling character, portraying himself as a virtual icon of virtue. But David is not bragging. These are not the words of a self-righteous moralist claiming to live in sinless perfection. He is simply attempting to establish what sets himself apart from his enemies. His words are more of an indictment of them than they are a declaration of David’s spiritual superiority. He is far from perfect, and yet, despite his many shortcomings, he remains faithful to God. He has tried to live according to God’s truth and has refused to consort with those whose lives are marked by wickedness. David may lie, but he isn't pathological about it. Occasionally, he could be hypocritical, but he didn't make a habit of it.    

David could say, “I live with integrity” (Psalm 26:11 NLT). But what does that mean? What was he claiming? He said he had acted or literally “walked” (lived his life) with integrity. In the Hebrew language, the word is tom, and it refers to completeness or wholeness. To live with integrity is to live a life that is non-compartmentalized. There is no such thing as the secular-sacred split. A person who lives in integrity allows the things of God to impact and influence every area of their life, including their home, work, leisure time, recreation, relationships, finances, etc.

There is no area in his life for which someone might be able to point their finger and level an accusation of impropriety or ungodly behavior. It is the same idea found in the qualifications for an elder or deacon in 1 Timothy. 

If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position. So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. – 1 Timothy 3:1-10 NLT

A life of integrity does not require sinless perfection. However, it does demand that one conduct their life with motives and attitudes marked by a desire to do what God would have them do. It displays a love for the things of God rather than the things of this world. A person of integrity is willing to trust God with every aspect of their life, dedicating every facet of it to His service and not holding back anything for their own selfish pleasures or desires.

As David indicates, a life of integrity is motivated by God’s unfailing love and is a logical response to His grace and mercy. A person of integrity knows their life does not belong to them but to God. It is not for them to use as they see fit. That is why David refused to associate with liars and hypocrites. He wanted nothing to do with those who do evil. The thought of aligning himself with the wicked was repulsive to him. A person of integrity would rather spend time with God and His people than anyone else. It is a life marked by separateness and set-apartness, not compromise and convenience. This is why David could say, “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me” (Psalm 26:2 NLT). He was willing to allow God to test the purity of his faithfulness and the validity of his integrity.

What about us? Could our integrity stand up to the heat of God’s scrutiny? Is our life characterized more by compartmentalization or wholeness? Are there any areas of our lives we refuse to let God control? Because of the integrity of his life, David found himself standing on a firm footing. He trusted in the integrity of God and placed his hope in Him. He had seen God to be faithful and true.  God had proven Himself to be anything but compartmentalized in His relationship with and reaction to David.  So David was willing to live for God’s glory in every area of his life.

The apostle Paul described this kind of life to the believers in Rome.

I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. – Romans 12:1 NLT

God wants a complete or whole sacrifice – not partial. His Son died to redeem all of us, not part of us. To live a life of integrity is to surrender your whole life to God because His Son gave His life to redeem all of you.

Jesus put it this way:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” – Matthew 16:24-26 NLT

The words of the old chorus, “I Surrender All,” seem appropriate here.

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Savior
I surrender all

Father, I want my life to be marked by integrity — not the worldly, human version, but the biblical one. I want every area of my life to be Yours. I know I hold areas back, afraid to let You control them. But continue to lovingly pry them from my hands so I can place them on the altar as a sacrifice to You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.