Religiosity

My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's , and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him, It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this. David is bringing this psalm to a close. He declares that he will bear witness of all that God has done in his life. He speaks of a great assembly. This could be his family and soldiers that followed him or it could mean all of Israel. The poor are mentioned several time...

But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. This is a heart-felt prayer/praise to God. David wants to be nearer to God. David wants God's help in his life in all respects. He acknowledges that God answered his pleas. David then promises to spread the name of the Lord to everyone in a public manner. He expects Israel to all worship God even if they are afraid. David knows that God is the path for Israel to take. Sometimes I lose sight of where I...

Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths Like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. This passage is one that is a prophecy of what Christ will go through in the New Testament. Jesus comes from the lineage of David who wrote this Psalm. The evil or predators are surrounding Him. Many details of Jesus' crucifixion are stated here. I think that this is so interesting. The prophecy is so accurate. Did David have a premonition of what would happen to the Messiah or just a prem...

But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake their head saying, "He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him since He delights in Him!". But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From my mother's womb You have been My God. Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help. This continues the passage from which Jesus recited from the cross. David is comparing himself to a worm, one that crawls on the ground and is not worthy of God's love and compassion. He says he is not a man. He, as King, is aware of what the people of Israel are thinking about him as their ruler. They have taken no responsibility for themselves and left everything to David. It seem they blame him for their troubles. They mock his belief. David states that he has been a believer s...

My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me. and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed. This psalm is one of suffering and praise. We hear these words again from Jesus on the cross. Worship of God brings us into His presence. This is how the people felt the connection between God and their lives. This communion with God keeps the relationship. Praise brings us into the right frame of mind to talk to God and receive His love. Three words are in this passage that are important: praises, trusted, and delivered. This means a lot to me personally. When did I stop trusting? Was it the day I realized that I was not in charge? I could not control the outcome of my life or Jan...

His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty you have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved. Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You. You shall make them as fiery oven in the time of Your anger; The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You;They devised a plot which they are not able to perform. Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces. Be exalted, O Lord in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power. This passage is a praise to God for His salvation. It refers to the sinners receiving a fiery final judgment and uses the...

The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him. Length of days forever and ever. This psalm is a thankful praise song from David for a victory prayed for in an earlier psalm. David asked for victory and received it. The conquered had a crown that was placed on David's head. The blessings of goodness remind that David was a little boy when called by God to this great purpose. I like the imagery used in this psalm. The 'blessings of goodness' give a picture of someone grateful and thankful at the same time. Length of day----a happy life. Communion with God.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. This passage refers to horses and chariots which Israel's more advanced enemies used, but the Chosen people relied on God for their strength and victory. They totally depended on the Lord. There is another plea for God to answer when we call out to Him. This reminds me that I need to trust in God and not of things of the world. I need to believe unwaveringly that He will answer my call.

May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. This passage is a continuation of assurance of God's saving work. "Now I know"... is a statement that says he knows the prayer is being heard by God. It is a wish that God grant David and his people what they desire the most to complete the purposes of their life. The verses restate that David hopes the petitions will be heard. I needed this today. I am in the midst of a panic episode triggered by Janessa. Lord, please help me deal with the next mess in my life. Give me peace. Give me strength.

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah This psalm starts out like a prayer that could have been used as a congregational recitation. It was written by David and may have been used when sacrificing before going to war. David is asking God for help and strength, as well as, asking God to accept the sacrifices made to God. The reference to Jacob is a reminder that God delivered Jacob in times of distress. These verses are especially poignant in my life at this time. I just feel things spiraling out of control and I hate that. I am asking for help during my troubled times and for the strength to endure it. Lord, please help me get through this trial.

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. The ending of this psalm is a continuation of the revelation of God. The Law of God was better than fine gold and sweet. It states there is great reward in keeping the laws and following the teachings of the Bible. 'Cleanse' from sins that no one knows about but me and God. That is profound. David is telling us in the last verses in prayerful ways that all we say and do should be to God's glory. I am really feeling the line "Cleanse me f...

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. The beginning of this passage is referring to sunrise and sunset. It mentions the law is perfect. That means that it is not wrong; it is infallible. Whatever the Lord says is true and not to be contradicted or misconstrued. It continues with virtues of the Lord: pure, enlightening, perfect, right, clean, enduring, true and righteous. This passage continues the revealing of the Lord. It is written...

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveal knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. This psalm is The Perfect Revelation of the Lord or a revealing of the Lord. It was written by David. It unites the 2 ways God has revealed Himself to us--His creation and His word. The firmament is how far you can see on the horizon. This passage is a praise to God about the creation of the heavens and earth. It reminds me that God spoke the world into being. I think of all the beautiful landscapes and seascapes that would not exist without God. When I look at a sunset or a mountain or a waterfall, I see God. The Bible is another way that I can learn from God. His words and deeds are a guide for me to follow. I need to trust in His revelation to me no matter how it happens.

You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have made me the head of the nations; A people I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; The foreigners submit to me. The foreigners fade away, and come frightened from their hideouts. The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; Youhave delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Great delivereance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore. This is the conclusion of this psalm. David is acknowledging that God has brought him up from a lowly shepherd boy to be King. He does not have to strive or work as others do. He remarks about the fact that he has servants to do his bidding. He g...

I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets. David is telling of his heroism in destroying those that wanted to defeat him. He gives all the glory for the victory to God. David cast out those that were against him as he became King. God gives us the strength we need for all the battles we face everyday. This passage reminds me that my battles are nothing compared to the war that David was involved in. However, God does not look at these circumstances differently. He arms me...

For who is God, except the Lord? and who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip. This passage states that God is the Lord. God is a rock that we can depend on. God gives His people strength to withstand what comes their way. The way is made perfect. Again the comparison to words in the New Testament are seen. He makes our way so our feet do not slip. This passage speaks to me in a special way tonight. I am having a panic episode and feeling lost and alone. Knowing that God is giving me the strength I need to go through this is comforting and gives me hope. God's way is perfect and He enlarged the path and made it so ...

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd, For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks. For You will light my lamp; The Lord God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God , His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. These verses give some morality lesson that will be repeated in the New Testament. Merciful, Blameless, Pure, Humility. The Lord will bring light into where there is only darkness which is where sin is. God's way is the ONLY way. It is perfect. Again David refers to God as a shield. This is a very soothing and hopeful passage. It tells us how to live our lives in God's way. God will protect us like a shield IF we trust in Him.

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord. And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity, therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. This passage continues in praise of God and David's worthiness. God 'delighted' in David because of his faithfulness to God. David believed that he had been reward because he had kept his hands clean. 'For I have kept the ways of the Lord' is the way to a new life with Jesus in the New Testament. David states that he did not turn from the laws of God. This passage is very reassuring to me that IF I do the right things ...

The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. The the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters, He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me, They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. These verses continue in telling of God's power. He thundered, scattered, and vanquished the enemies. The last verse is key: the Lord was my support. Without God and His power David would have been destroyed. Without God's strength and power David would have been defeated and Israel would have disappeared. This passage tells me that God is ultra-powerful and can withstand ANYTHING. There is nothing more powe...

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, his thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. These verses reveal the power of God and the dangerous things that He is capable of. This passage reminds me not to take God for granted. His powers are great and unmerciful if He is angered.

The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. David is revealing how he thought he was going to die. Thoughts of Sheol, the place of the dead, were engulfing his thoughts. He thought death was imminent. At the worst time, he called to God and God heard him and delivered him from death. This reminds me of that Dallas Holm song " At my worst he found me, At my worst he cried, At my worst he died...." Many times I think that my life is terrible and things are unfair. I need to look at the broader picture and know that all I need is God. That God will hear my cry and answer and save me from whatever befalls. I have several experiences where I thought I may die. I was not really afraid for me---I was worried about my family.

I will love YOU, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength in who I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18 was the one that David prayed after Saul and his other enemies and been defeated. This in the longest psalm at the beginning of Book 1 of the Psalms. The MOST basic reason to praise God is given here: HE IS WORTHY to be praised. The more we praise Him, the more His light will shine upon us. Our Lord inhabits praise. Light brings us closer to God. God is that Light. I love these verses. The Lord is a rock---unmoved, solid; a fortress---a place of safety in times of troubles and danger; a deliverer-----a savior that brings us back from the brink of despair and failure. GOD STRENGTH TRUST WORTHY PRAISE SALVATION Those words are the basic message in this passage.

They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, as a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O Lord. Confront him, cast him down; deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, with Your hand from men, O Lord, from men of the world who have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their possession for thier babes. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. 'Fat hearts' refers to the luxuries that men seek. David writes that they are proud and vain in their possessions. Those that are seeking to kill him are like predators lying in wait. David asks that God strike these proud, vain men down. They have much to leave their children ( an inheritance) . These m...

I have called upon You; for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who raise up aginst them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. David has faith that if he calls upon God, that God will hear him and answer. David understands the lovingkindness of His Heavenly Father and knows that it is He who has kept him safe from those who want to kill him. David realizes that God will protect him from the enemies. This passage continues in the theme of David calling on the Lord and trusting in Him. I like the line that states ' keep me as the apple of your eye'. I did not know that this came from the Bible. Someone that is the apple of your eye is someone special that you love and care for and that you would do anything to protect. David has this typ...

Hear a just cause O Lord, attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. You have tested my heart ; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip. This passage is asking again for God's ear to hear the prayers being uttered. It states that God has tested the writer's heart. He states that he has kept from Satan's ways (destroyer). He is asking for God to help him stay to the path and that he not slip into ungodliness. This was written by David. He is asking God to help him stay on the path of righteousness and that God KNOWS his heart because He has tested and tried him. I ask the same.

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol. Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life ; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. This passage continues in the message of the Messiah. David is praising God for helping him in times of need. He states that he, David, will not be swayed from his faith in the Lord. The mention of Sheol, the place of the dead, is mentioned. It states that the fleshly body rests in hope and will not be left behind in that place of the dead. This speaks of eternal life. The term 'Your Holy One' refers to Jesus. The statement that God will show the path of life is important in this psalm. Following this...

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O My soul, you have said to the Lord, You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You. As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take up their names on my lips. O Lord You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot, the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. Psalm 16 is about the hope of the faithful of God and the coming Messiah's eventual victory. "Preserve me" is a reference to save one from death. This gist of this passage is that without the Lord we are nothing. Our goodness rests in God. It says that the ungodly will have their sorrows multiplied and will suffer. This passage states that God is our inheritance or our future. This relates to me in that I am trying to rededicate myself to ...

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put our his moneoy at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15 is about the people who can live with the Lord in Heaven. It was written by David. The beginning asks 2 questions---who can live in God's house and who can live in holiness where God is. This refers to the Ark of the Covenant which was considered to be where GOD lived. God is telling David that to live in His presence that he must think of others first. Also, to live a life that is a witness for the Lord. This is the commandment th...

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand who seek Godl They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord? There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous. You shame the counsel of the poor, But the Lord is his refuge. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. The fool mentioned in the first verse is one who has made a decision to embrace immorality. Those that do not believe try to bring about doubt to others. David states that God is with the righteous people. If you do good then the Lord will be w...

How long O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvationl I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13 is about trust in the Lord and in salvation. It is written by David. David is questioning God about if he has be forgotten, however, by the end of the psalm he is praising God. David asks that God enlighten him so that he does not die. He tells God of his trust and his joy in the Lord's salvation because of all the Lord has done for him. This passage reminds me of myself. I question God continually about his will for me and what path my life ...

Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said with our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise says the Lord; I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. The words of the Lord are pure words. :ole so;ver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked prowl on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men. David is crying out to the Lord because he sees that mankind being godly has become very rare. He is trying to get God's attention by asking for help. The godly were having no influence in the community. Gossip and Rumors were ...

In the Lord I put my trust ; How can you say to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For Look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. David is at a point where he would like nothing more than to flee from his enemies. It is impossible. It is a test of patience and faith when the wicked seem to be ahead in the game. It is David's thought that the Lord is waiting. Waiting for the sign of who will turn to Him and be loyal. The 'cup...

Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble. Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, You will not require an account. But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commmits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none. The Lord is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land. Lord You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more. This passage concludes the psalm about the wicked of the world and God's triumph over the evil ones. This is one of the steps in Knowing and Understanding God and His ways. Knowing that God is omniscient and knows before we act and Believing in that fact is a way that we can understand God's deity....

He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength. He has said in his heart, God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see. This is a continuation of the sins of the wicked. It mention many things done in secret. However, God sees and knows all, so nothing is done in secret actually. The evil one or Satan lurks and lures people; he lies low and catches them unaware. This passage is important to me because so many times I sin and think that no one knows but me. However, I must remember that God knows everything I do in secret or in the open. He even knows the thoughts in my heart. Lord, forgive me.

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire. He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. The wicked in his proud countencance does not seek God; God is in none of his thought. His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. Psalm 10 is written as an acostic poem. This is a psalm about triumph over evil. The first verse shows us that the writer thinks that God has become distant with him. The passage continues with thoughts about the wicked of the world. A wicked person boasts about his desires and having them. God is not in anything that he does. I have felt tha...

The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. (meditation) The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise O Lord Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. This continues the psalm of David that is about praise and judgment of the wicked. The wicked are caught in the evil of their own making. It states that the wicked will be sent to Hell. David says here that the needy and the poor of the world will not be forgotten. The Lord takes care of his own. I sometimes look at people that nothing bad ever happens to and wonder why? Has God forgotten me? I need to remember that God is the judge. That His will be done in all things. Being poor in any way does not mean that He has given up on us.

Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, That I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. This particular passage encourages us to continue praise to God for the wonderful deeds He has done. It tells us that God does not forget the cry and prayers from the humble. This scripture tells me that I need to ask humbly for help from God. I think He is morely like to answer these prauers that are asked if requested in the correct spirit.

O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; Even their memory has perished. But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in unrightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord have not forsaken those who seek You. This passage reiterates that the enemy is destroyed by God. They have been destroyed so that even people do not remember them. BUT, God will endure and last forever. No matter what. God is a refuge or a place to go to when you need safety and protection. It brings me joy to KNOW that God will endure and because I am His child, I will live forever as well. God is my refuge when I am hurting, when I am lost, when I need Him. God does not give up on us even when we lose our way.

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For you have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. Psalm 9 is one of prayer and thanksgiving to God. The first line states that we will praise with a 'whole' heart. This passage praises God for overcoming David's enemies. I love the line that says I will praise God with my WHOLE heart. We cannot just give God a part of ourselves. We must commit totally. We should rejoice and be glad that He has defeated our enemies. Satan is the enemy.

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen---Even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! This passage mirrors Adam in the Garden of Eden. God gave mankind dominion or power over the animals. This psalm continues praise for God. God is all-powerful and made us in his likeness. We praise Him for everything. This is why I like Psalms.

O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him glory and honor. This is a psalm of praise from David. He is relating how wonderful God is. The creation of the universe is referenced including the moon and the stars. It states that mankind is just lower than angels. This passage is a reminder that God is omniscient and omnipresent. The heavens were created by God and we are as loved and cared for as the angels. I always think of angels as being equal with God and Jesus. This states that humans are just lower than angels. Thi...

God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. This passage is a continuation of David talking about how God deals with Sin and Sinners. The key verse is basically that you will reap what you sow. If you sow wickedness that is what you will receive. It also talks of how God's punishment will be like using weapons of death---sword, bow, arrows. David ends this psalm with praises for God. This reminds me of the ...

Arise O Lord in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies, Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me O Lord according to my righteousness and according to my integrity within me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. David is asking God to awaken and help him even though we know that God never sleeps. David knows that he is the chosen to be King and wants God to defend him because he is good and his enemies are bad. David has integrity at this point in history. Later he loses his integrity and God punishes him. David wants God to judge him on his goodness. David may believe that he is being tested by God. His saving grace is God who is righteous. This passage relates to me th...

O Lord my God in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me Lest they tear me like a lion rending me in pieces while there is none to deliver. O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy with out cause, Let the enemy pursue me and overtake mel Yes, let him trample my life to the earth and lay my honor in the dust. In this passage David is trying to flee from King Saul and his other enemies. David is asking God to save him from those who wanted him dead. He was accused of doing something evil and he is willing to take God's punishment if it is so. His good heart and name were more important than being King. I have these same feelings at times. Those that persecute me and talk about me behind my back, those that choose to do harm to my reputation....I want them to be held accountable for it. However, that is not my place. It is God's place....

I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim. I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly. The passage is a continuation of David's lament to God. It could be physical, psychological, or spiritual problems plaguing David. He groans. He cries. He is grieving. David believes that God has heard his prayers and that He will answer those prayers. He hopes that his enemies will become troubled because of the wrongs they have done to him. Prayer is my way of communing with God. I need to have more faith that He is hearing and answering those prayers. I have the same types of problems that David had and I need to turn them all over to God. I need to just let i...

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure , Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord---how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh save me for Your mercies sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? These verses again are written by David. He is ill and thinks God has turned away from him. He is asking God to heal him and not let him die. This could be physical or it could be spiritual. Death was a dark place. Perhaps David was depressed. This passage is relating David to other humans. We all have suffering whether it is a physical pain or spiritual pain. David bore a lot for Israel. We should call out to God when we are feeling weak--- BUT not only then. We should call on God everyday continuously without ceasing. The world is a hard place but God can help us through the hardships. We just have to ask.

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me O Lord in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make your way straight before my face . For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction;Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty O God! ........But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. .... The meaning of 'Your house' is possible the church or temple. David is still pleading with God to lead him against his enemies. He is asking for God to show him the right path to take. Their inward part is probably their souls. An open tomb is unclean according to Jewish law. David refers to people who pretend they are something they are not. David wants God's people to rejoice because they can trust in Him. Thi...

Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation . Give heed to the voice of my cry My King and my God. For to You I pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning O Lord In the morning I will direct it to You AND I will look up. For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. This is a cry from David to God. He is desperately wanting God to hear his pleas. It states that the prayer is sent straight to God. Meditation does not mean chanting but can mean the inner motives of the heart that are not spoken. The verses speak of 'looking up'. This could mean looking up towards heaven to where God abides or it could mean in waiting for the answer to the prayer. David states that evilness will not be tolerated by God. Many sins are listed in this passage about evil. The...

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be angry and do not sin, meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and Put your trust in the Lord..... You alone make me dwell in safety. These verses are a reaffirmation of God's love for us and His power. It states that God has helped in distress and that we can call out to him for mercy when we need it. Be still as you meditate on God and trust in Him. We should not question God's love and mercy. I think my message today is to continually seek out God. Meditate and Be Still. Trust in Him for everything. His mercy is greater than we can know.