God not only blesses His people, but He guides them and gives them wisdom from His word.
Read morePSALM 15
The sanctified life, an obedient life, is what brings security and communion with the LORD.
Read morePSALM 14
God’s people will rejoice at the day of reckoning and be glad at the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Read morePRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.
From: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers
PSALM 13
The path out of despair begins with prayer and ends with trust.
Read morePSALM 12—PART 2
How Can the Godly Survive in a Depraved World
Last week we saw David’s Prayer for Deliverance from Duplicitous People in verses 1-4. The world around him is full of wicked people who celebrate sin. He feels alone in the midst of a sea of evil. David prays that God would help him in the midst of the lies and falsehoods that are everywhere.
God speaks to David in verse 5 of this psalm. Here we can see the Promise of God to Help. God sees the plight of believers who are oppressed, mistreated, and live among such great wickedness. In the time of His choosing, God will intervene and give relief to His people (5).
In this last section we can see the Preservation of God’s People (6-8). David responds to the words of God day declaring that God’s words are pure (6). In the midst of a wicked world full of lies, deception, and half-truths, God’s word is reliable and trustworthy. God’s word is like refined pure silver that has no impurities. Unlike the words of the wicked, God’s word is guarded and protected by Himself. It will endure forever and never pass away. God’s people are preserved in the midst of evil knowing that God’s word is true and reliable. God also protects His people in the midst of severe trials (7). God does not promise to always take away the trials of life, but He promises to guards His people while they travel through the dark valleys (Ps 23:4). God is in sovereign control of all things; even when the wicked are everywhere (8). They “strut” about, able to do and say anything they like without shame or rebuke. When society glorifies what is evil, and calls it good, wickedness in the land prevails.
PSALM 12—PART 1
We know that when Christ returns He will come in judgment upon the wicked of this world.
Read morePSALM 11
Believers must fix their confidence in their God, and and nothing else.
Read morePSALM 10
We see how our deepest emotions can be expressed prayerfully, and be assured of a hearing, through humble recognition of the nature and character of God.
Read morePSALM 9
God’s Justice is Sure
We live in a world that talks a lot about justice. Economic justice, social justice, and racial justice... just to name a few. All the injustice in our world comes down to the sinful human heart. Mankind rejects the moral standard of God revealed in His word, and the end result is that people do what is right in their own eyes. People sin against one another, nations go to war, and all the while those who seek to live righteously face hardship and persecution. Many ask the question, “when will there be justice?”
David begins this psalm by praising God for His righteousness (9:1-12). God is morally right in His nature and in all His works. Divine justice is praiseworthy because it is not capricious, but rather flows out of God’s nature. David has witnessed the judgment of God upon Israel’s enemies in the past (3-6). Yet in the midst of this judgement, God acted as a stronghold for His people (7-10). God does not forget His people and knows their troubles (11-12).
In light of these things, David cries out to God asking for His divine justice (13-20). He asks God to see his plight and be gracious to him (13-14). David desires God to receive even more glory in His deliverance of His people once again (14). God will judge the wicked of the world (15-18). Divine justice is seen throughout the world as man and nations are caught in their own wicked schemes (15-16). The wicked will face a future in hell; while believers will find rest with God (17-18). David ends this psalm with a call for God to intervene and bring justice to the world. Let those who refused to fear God in reverence, now fear God in His judgement (19-20).