PSALMS from past Issues
Psalm 14
Have you ever done anything foolish?
Have you ever been called a fool because of something you said?
One of my favourite comedy programmes on television was Blackadder – apart from series 1 to be honest – and in it I warm to the character called Baldrick, played marvellously by Tony Robinson. He is the fool who says and does what many of us are thinking is the most obvious answer…and gets his just rewards!
I think there is a Baldrick in many of us to be honest!
The sad part in all the programmes, however, is that he is the butt for many of Blackadder’s tricks and wise sayings. He makes Blackadder look good of course.
Now turn with me to this psalm. Read it through.
Did you think of anyone in verse 1? Were you glad you were not that person?
Read again verses 2 and 3 – aloud?
There may be many in this world who ridicule the LORD God, even saying He does not exist. There are many whose lifestyles are not good, not pleasing to God, the One who ultimately decides all things.
Whoever we are, you and I are or were fools, living our lives for ourselves or even others – but not for God above all.
So before we judge others too harshly we need reminding that our spiritual freedom, our salvation is a gift of God’s outrageous grace in Christ Jesus.
Look at verse 7 with me.
Isn’t that wonderful – even when we fail foolishly, our God is able and willing to restore our fortunes from His rich treasure-chest!
Does this psalm encourage you to pray for, seek out or speak with those you know who do not know God?
Don’t judge them – pray for them – with humility.
Or does it bring you to your knees, asking for forgiveness and restoration for foolish things said, done or even thought? If it does, then some rejoicing is in order and all praise goes to the Living and True God, the God of Jacob and Israel, and you and I. This is our God!
Amen? Amen!!
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Psalm 13
More questions!!
The first two verses are question..question..question..question..question.
The next two are wanting an answer – and soon!
The last two are happy to wait.
Where are you in your walk with God right now?
Questioning? Expecting? Waiting?
David wrote these words we are told and yet here we are all these years later reading them for ourselves. For some of us the questions are so real and it seems as if our Christian lives are dominated by them day by day by day by day! It may be that our questions are part of the reason we are not yet a believer, like doubting Thomas in the New Testament.
One of the great things about the psalmist, David or whoever, is that they expected God to answer. The history of Israel reminded them of how He had answered in the past days and years. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of what God has done for us in the past, how He answered prayers, how He acted and spoke to us and also to others.
(Have you read a Christian biography recently by the way?)
Or we may need to wait a tad longer for the answer – if it is to come in this life.
Watching a kettle boil will not make it boil any faster.
Glaring at the traffic lights will not make them change any quicker.
Getting impatient with God may not speed up His ways.
David was prepared to trust....and to sing to the LORD!! Have you tried that method of waiting? Is there a song of worship or trust in your thoughts even now? Is there a worship cd nearby that contains a song to express your praise to a God who is totally trustworthy, faithful and good – however long He takes to answer our cries?
Read the psalm again, two verses at a time, and respond to this God after each with a prayer, a question....
or a song. Psalm 147 may help.
Psalm 11
Only 7 verses here from David.
Seven pictures painted for us to ponder.
Let’s enter this particular gallery arm in arm.
* A place of refuge. What image comes to your mind?
* A scene of battle, bows and arrows. Can you see it all?
* A building where the foundations are collapsing. See it happening?
* A temple and a throne. Caught the brightness?
* A judgement day. Dark clouds overhead?
* A grim scene. What can you picture here?
* A face. Is He smiling at you?
What verse might include you in the picture David used?
What picture stays in your mind?
What is this psalm saying to you?
Is it time to leave the gallery, or do we need more time to look, listen and respond?
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Psalm 22
At this time of the year, let me invite you to sit down somewhere with your Bible
and read Psalm 22.
As you do……Imagine that scene at Calvary all those years ago.
Take time and try to imagine what was going through Jesus’ mind.
And pray to Him, and God the Father, in humble response when you are ready.
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LENT
Let me encourage you to re-visit one or two of the Psalms here...and spend time with God through them.
Perhaps Psalm 5 or 22 at this season of the year?
Take time to read.....and consider the words and verses.....ponder them over in your mind and heart.
Respond to God, the LORD God, Father God in a time with Him in prayerful conversation.
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Psalms 10 and 77
Sometimes it is difficult not to laugh when we are out and about and hear a child ask their parent one of those awkward questions, isn’t it?
It is okay to ask God questions, however – real, deep and honest ones.
Job did and so did Habbakuk. I love the book of Habbakuk for this reason! Psalm 10 was down in my notebook for the next in this series and then this morning I read Psalm 77 in my daily readings.
The psalmists sure did take their questions to their God.
Psalm 10 v1....has God gone on holiday or what??
10 v 13....why do people say what they say??
Psalm 77 v 8....has God stopped loving us??
77 v 9....is God angry??
But then look at the question in psalm 77 verse 13 as it appears in the New International Version......and now everything has a very different perspective.
The LORD God is greater than any other god and indeed than all in creation.
Read on in that psalm and capture the sense of God on His throne.
He alone sees the whole picture.
This is the God the psalmist calls out to in verses 1 and 2 – he just forgot to take off his eye-mask of circumstances that was affecting his vision.
We are all affected by our circumstances and of course questions arise.
However our God reigns!
Turn back to Psalm 10.
Look at the difference between verses 2-11 and 14-18.
The unbeliever has no room or time for God.
The believer has confidence above all in his/her God.
There are tough days, weeks, months, years and there will be questions. It is okay to tell God exactly how you feel about whatever – even Him!
But try not to get stuck in verses 2-11. The words of verses 14-18 will give you better answers and a truer picture of the perspective God has on it all.
(If you haven’t read Habbakuk – only 3 chapters – is now the time?)
Psalm 11
Only 7 verses here from David.
Seven pictures painted for us to ponder.
Let’s enter this particular gallery arm in arm.
* A place of refuge. What image comes to your mind?
* A scene of battle, bows and arrows. Can you see it all?
* A building where the foundations are collapsing. See it happening?
* A temple and a throne. Caught the brightness?
* A judgement day. Dark clouds overhead?
* A grim scene. What can you picture here?
* A face. Is He smiling at you?
What verse might include you in the picture David used?
What picture stays in your mind?
What is this psalm saying to you?
Is it time to leave the gallery, or do we need more time to look, listen and respond?
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Psalm 22
At this time of the year, let me invite you to sit down somewhere with your Bible
and read Psalm 22.
As you do……Imagine that scene at Calvary all those years ago.
Take time and try to imagine what was going through Jesus’ mind.
And pray to Him, and God the Father, in humble response when you are ready.
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LENT
Let me encourage you to re-visit one or two of the Psalms here...and spend time with God through them.
Perhaps Psalm 5 or 22 at this season of the year?
Take time to read.....and consider the words and verses.....ponder them over in your mind and heart.
Respond to God, the LORD God, Father God in a time with Him in prayerful conversation.
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Psalms 10 and 77
Sometimes it is difficult not to laugh when we are out and about and hear a child ask their parent one of those awkward questions, isn’t it?
It is okay to ask God questions, however – real, deep and honest ones.
Job did and so did Habbakuk. I love the book of Habbakuk for this reason! Psalm 10 was down in my notebook for the next in this series and then this morning I read Psalm 77 in my daily readings.
The psalmists sure did take their questions to their God.
Psalm 10 v1....has God gone on holiday or what??
10 v 13....why do people say what they say??
Psalm 77 v 8....has God stopped loving us??
77 v 9....is God angry??
But then look at the question in psalm 77 verse 13 as it appears in the New International Version......and now everything has a very different perspective.
The LORD God is greater than any other god and indeed than all in creation.
Read on in that psalm and capture the sense of God on His throne.
He alone sees the whole picture.
This is the God the psalmist calls out to in verses 1 and 2 – he just forgot to take off his eye-mask of circumstances that was affecting his vision.
We are all affected by our circumstances and of course questions arise.
However our God reigns!
Turn back to Psalm 10.
Look at the difference between verses 2-11 and 14-18.
The unbeliever has no room or time for God.
The believer has confidence above all in his/her God.
There are tough days, weeks, months, years and there will be questions. It is okay to tell God exactly how you feel about whatever – even Him!
But try not to get stuck in verses 2-11. The words of verses 14-18 will give you better answers and a truer picture of the perspective God has on it all.
(If you haven’t read Habbakuk – only 3 chapters – is now the time?)
Psalm 8
A few months ago my wife and I saw a glorious sunset.
We were down at South Queensferry, standing between the Forth Road Bridge and the Rail Bridge, watching the evening sun light up the sky and the water in front of us. Cameras of all sizes were in abundance around us!
I think this particular psalm is one of David’s best captured pictures.
He puts everything into the correct perspective – even putting us humans in our place!!
Read the psalm aloud, slowly, meaningfully.
If you are able to read it near a window, or a scenic view, all the better.
Look at the sky above (whatever time of day it is with you) and the grass below (if there is any of course).
Look at the people passing or travelling, or their houses or places of work.
Look at your hands.
Read the psalm again.
The LORD God is our Creator, indeed the creator of all and everything.
We really should say ‘thank-you’ more often to Him.
His creation is pretty special. It is huge and wonderful and intricate.
We really should enjoy it more.
Humanity is very special and we have a special responsibility to creation.
We really should take better care of it.
David’s picture says it all. Our task should be not to spoil it.
Next time you see a spectacular view – grab Psalm 8 – not a camera!
(Genesis 1 & 2 and Revelation 21 are good links with this psalm.
If you can listen to ‘Is this the world we created?’ by Queen,
I think it is worth it.)
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Psalm 7
Do you ever think you are that person who is right – most of the time?
In a family argument, behind the steering wheel or at a shop counter?
I was that person as I grew up, thinking I was right and (almost) everyone else was in the wrong (of course). I had that attitude for many years – as an adult as well as a child and teenager. I would even place my mug
on the right side next to the kettle if I was making more than one cup so that I knew which mug was mine-
how sad was that as I look back now!!
Now I read verse 9 of this psalm – o u c h indeed.
Only God is truly right and He searches through our thoughts, words and actions with His Holy Spirit,
checking out our motives and intentions.
This psalm is all about being right, doing right and understanding that
God is right – always.
In verses 3-5 we are stopped in our tracks by David’s words, honest and true.
Dare we make them our prayer each evening at the end of the day?
Then verse 6 reminds us that God gets angry at unrighteousness.
Dare we make verse 8 our willing prayer to God?
In verses 14-16 we see that we mustn’t point the finger at others – there are always more fingers pointing back at us when we do!
And all these verses are sandwiched in between 1 and 17.
They are a glorious testimony of a person who has come to recognise there is Someone bigger and better than himself, a God who is always right and yet is not a dictator. He delights to protect, save and deliver those who come to Him, admitting they were wrong and that they need Him in their lives.
One evening in my ‘righteous temper’ I made my dad cry. I had never seen him weep before and I was to blame. That hurt me a lot and that evening I knelt beside my parents’ bed, asking God to take away my hurtful temper.
Will you kneel with me before this God of Grace, seeking His forgiveness and understanding of right and wrong, ready to be salt and light in a needy world?
( Philippians 4 vs 2-9 and James 3 are good reads at this point.)
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Psalm 6
How things can change in a week, a day or even a few minutes.
How different this psalm is from the one before!
Confidence has turned to distress.
Strength to weakness.
Hope to fear.
Singing to groaning.
It is something we all share in – the unpredictability of life. For many people this time of year highlights it all too clearly.
It is one of the biggest tests of our Christian faith – is God really there when the family is in fallout mode, the money isn’t coming in, health is fading?
In the first three verses David is pleading with God, almost dreading Him going out of the picture. David is at the end of the rope and he has very little strength to keep a hold on it. Sound familiar some days?
In the next four verses David’s situation doesn’t seem any better at all!
He senses he is near to dying.
And the last three verses?
The coin has turned!
David had previously called out to a God who is merciful, can heal, is able to deliver and has unfailing love. And this God heard his groaning and acted – as He would – and so David is now pulling a face at his enemies!!
Yes, life isn’t fair at times. Yes, we struggle with weaknesses and circumstances daily, weekly, monthly, year by year – but the LORD God
sees us, hears us, is with us and does act for us.
Is this your God? Do you need to cry out to Him?
Do you need to thank Him for being there – when others weren’t?
When you read this psalm did you focus on David’s situation or on His God?
So often we are looking down or inwards instead of upwards!
Oh I know it isn’t easy – but look how things changed for David.
(Romans 8 might be worth a read at some time soon
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Psalm 22……the Servant King
Let me invite you to read through and consider this psalm at this time of the year……a reminder of why Jesus really came to our world….to be the Servant King, the Suffering Saviour, Son of God and yet Son of Man.
So please……pick up your Bible….take time and ponder these words and images….and as you celebrate the babe in the manger…remember the man on the cross 33 years later……
Hallelujah, what a Saviour is Jesus!
PSALM 5
Oh I like this psalm a lot!
It could be read at any time of the day
although verse 3 seems to give it a specific time-frame.
I suppose it just depends when we sigh and cry the most….
There is an urgency to David’s words in verse 1 and he expects an answer.
Those first 3 verses are always a delight for me to read and re-read.
They telI me that I am not the only one who starts some days sighing.
They remind me that I have a Heavenly King who not only listens to me –
but speaks and replies to me!
Notice then in verse 4 who God doesn’t like near Him… Ouch if that is us!?
But then comes the but of verse 7! Yippee!!
If there wasn’t that ‘but’ then you and I would be stuck in the three verses before.
God hates sin but loves the sinner and His people have been shown outrageous grace over and over again indeed...we can even come into
God’s own house! Verse 11 even encourages us to do some (joyful) shouting there!
Pause there for a moment with me.
Are you comfortable in God’s house, sitting with God Himself, or
does it get a bit uncomfortable being there in His presence?
Do you need to look again at verses 4-6 for a time?
God doesn’t want us lounging around in His house though...verse 8 speaks of walking the walk and not just talking the talk. Ouch.
But.....He will lead and guide us Himself. I think that is pretty cool.
There is quite a difference when we compare verses 9 and 10 to 11 and 12
and it all depends really on how we see ourselves and God.
This psalm can be such an encouragement or leave a heaviness in us.
Will we cry out to God in praise and thanksgiving or for mercy and forgiveness?
I love this psalm a lot! Do you?
(Ephesians 2 verses 1-10 speak more of God’s rich love and great mercy at work.)
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Psalm 4
It’s a case of Them and Us basically in a nutshell here.
Unbelievers and believers. The godly and the ungodly.
And the one true merciful God dealing with both.
The result? A man who can sleep deeply.
In the same way that others don’t always have it easy, God’s people face tough times too in daily living. We aren’t immune from distresses...look at v.1.
However David knows that his God is only a prayer away and will answer him.
It is a great truth to realise that the LORD God is truly able to hear our prayers, is merciful, and ready to act for us with amazing grace.
When bad days happen where do we start? With the problem? With God?
Or do we listen to others too much? Have a read of vs. 2-6.
Not everyone sees problems in the same way. Not everyone is on the same platform as us. David had people near him whose questions could have unsettled him. There may be those near us who see life’s trials without the true God in the picture and indeed have their own gods to lean on or manipulate for their own ends.
Verse 3 reminds us that, as God’s people, we are set apart, to be somewhat noticeably different from those who don’t follow Jesus as Lord.
We may hear others questioning our faith, our lifestyle and our God but we shouldn’t listen to them too much. God’s Word, the Bible, His Spirit and His Church should be our noticeboards as we wait on the platform of daily life for whichever train God has prepared for us to travel on.
And at the end of the day?
Verses 7 and 8 tell of great joy, peaceful sleep and safety in God’s arms.
Don’t be a Them. Be an Us!
(Want to read more? The books of Job and 1 Peter have similar themes.)
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3. Psalm 3
Have you ever had to go reluctantly to a family event?
Have you a family member who is your personal nemesis and knows how
to trap you in a corner somehow somewhere at family gatherings?
I think we all do or have had someone like that in our lives.
This psalm was written by David when he was on the run...from his own son, Absalom. Yes, his own son! But the story gets better – because David was the king at the time and he was the one on the run!
I imagine that David prayed these words at the start of a day as he contemplated what lay ahead – or rather who lay ahead of him.
He knew so well that there were many on Absalom’s side.
He knew they were all against him – king or not.
He knew that many were teasing him and taunting his faith.
Ever felt like that at the start of a day?
Then comes the BUT of verse 3 however.
Despite the numbers David had total faith in his God, a God who could and would protect him, who would lift his head up when it all got him down and who actually answered his cries and prayers.
Having this God on his side meant that David could have a good’s night sleep at the end of the day.
Having God on his side meant that David was not afraid of numbers.
Having God on his side meant that David expected Him to strike down his enemies – just like skittles in a bowling alley!
David starts the psalm looking around and counting his enemies but ends it by counting his blessings.
How will your day end today? How has it started?
Do you expect God to do great things even today?
Time to lie down and sleep me thinks.......
(2 Samuel chapter 15 tells of the family at war with itself.)
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2. Psalm 1
(Bible open? Here we go then.)
I don’t think I have ever heard this psalm sung on X-Factor, Eurosvision Song Contest or even Songs of Praise and, yet, when I read these words I have a choir image in my mind! Many years ago I sang in our church choir – tenor alongside my dad! This psalm was one we sang several times under my mum’s leadership and I remember it well.
Notice the very first word in many of the translations... ‘Blessed’. How would you define that?
Look at the imagery of verse 3 in particular.
In fact Psalm 1 is six short, sweet, deadly verses.
Why deadly? Isn’t that a bit harsh from a God of amazing grace?
Isn’t verse 3 all about prospering in this life? Yes, but that isn’t the only concept being talked about in this psalm. Sin was and is a reality in our lives and it has fatal consequences......
Do you think that blessed = happy or is there more to it? (Now that’s something to ponder when you are standing in the bus queue…..)
My mobile phone dictionary app gave me 8 meanings for ‘blessed’ and I warm to three of them with regard to verse one...’divinely or supremely favoured’, ‘blissfully happy or contented’ and ‘bringing happiness and thankfulness’.
To be considered blessed then is only something God can confer on us and it has wonderful effects!
But oh it has a definite route in life....read again vs 1-3 and consider the other side of the coin :
-Do I enjoy the company of unbelievers too much?
- Do I delight to read the Bible (daily) or is it only a Sunday duty?
- Am I like that tree in v.3?
Or is my daily life currently being blown about because of my sin?
Verse 6 is like a double-edged sword as the psalm ends. It either encourages and comforts us or gives us a cold shudder and a strong warning. The verse really does sum up Psalm 1 and I really do think it is all about Life or Death after all….because if we are spiritually dead how can we ever produce lasting fruit?
Can we truthfully say that our lives are blessed, rooted aright and pleasing to God?
(Psalm 103 is a good psalm to read about all God’s benefits to His people!
1 Peter ch.1 is also a chapter worth the read.)
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1. PSALM 18
I have to start with taking you to this Psalm...it has become my signature psalm over recent years and
it is packed full with 50 wonderful verses!
Take time to read it all through now.
Look at verse 1 again..short but sweet indeed.
Some of us find it easier than others to say we love someone but can you and I easily say that we love God?
We use the word when we talk about a teenage crush, a friendship, a romance, members of our family, our spouse or about a meal, a film, a book, a song, a toy, a picture, a view or almost anything else!!
Is it because we are leaning on that person or object for strength, sometimes more than others?
Look again at verse 1.
Is God my/your source of strength for each day that comes our way?
Do we love Him more than anyone or anything else?
Usually we love someone for a reason...we may be related, we may be attracted to them, they might have done something special to merit our love. The rest of this psalm tells us of David’s reasons why he loves the LORD his God.
Look with me at some of these reasons....
v.3 God answered prayer!
vs.4-6 David was down and out but...
vs.7-19 God clearly acted to save David
vs.20-27 David knew that God’s love was undeserved
vs. 28-36 God’s love has an amazing effect!!
vs. 37-45 David’s enemies get what for!!
vs. 46-50 the psalm ends with David’s vision all in order again
– looking upwards to His God.
I love this psalm! I love David’s God!
Do you?
(If you are interested, 2 Samuel 22 puts the psalm in its historical context in David’s life
and John 21 verses 15 and following are worth a read alongside it all.)
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