Psalms

A Brief Introduction

Global Message for Today 

Believers should be the happiest of people, for we know God, His wonderful love, covenant promises, abundant pardon, strong comfort, and abiding presence. We have sorrows, but no reason to be miserable. Although tempted to enjoy the company and pleasures of worldly people, God’s grace makes believers different from them and allows us to derive our enjoyment from Scripture and the Holy Spirit, which promote holiness in us. On judgment day we will escape the wrath of God, and discover how He has watched over us in love all our days. How does this encourage you to follow Christ? 

Christ is supremely the man who is blessed (72:17). He is the ideal king who is separated from sinners (v. 1; Heb. 7:26) and engaged to keep God’s law (v. 2; 40:7–8). Accordingly, He becomes like a fruitful and flourishing tree, nurtured by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 11:1–2) and full of good works (Isa. 4:2; Acts 10:38). In union with Him by a Spirit-worked faith, we too can become fruitful out of His fullness. What does this teach you about true prosperity? 

The world is full of opposition to Christ. Hence there is need for powerful and efficacious grace, to convict, enlighten, and persuade. Churches should therefore concentrate on gospel preaching and prayer for the work of the Holy Spirit. Whatever the opposition, no human power can ever nullify or undo the divine purpose. Are you allowing pessimism to affect you, or are you hanging on to the hope that Christ’s kingdom will prevail in every nation?

God commands all nations to submit to His Son. Let us begin with ourselves. Have we “kissed the Son”? Have we obeyed His command to repent and believe? One day, maybe very soon, Christ will return as Judge. Will He find us still holding out against Him, or will He find us serving Him? Eternal destiny is linked to the Son. How can a person know that the Son has taken him as His inheritance?

There will be times when troubles come from every side; but God proves to be our shield, very strong, always ready at hand, and surrounding us in His protecting love. We must never sink into despair. Prayer is absolutely vital. In His sovereignty, God is prepared to respond to prayer and work on our behalf. Committing everything into God’s hands, we may rest assured that He will grant both help and peace. Remembering former deliverances, we will find courage to face the unknown future. He is the same as ever He was. We go forward, feeling there is much we do not know, but one thing is sure: “Thy blessing is upon thy people” (v. 8) How has God proven to be your help and peace? 

David’s troubles foreshadowed the sufferings of Christ. Many people turned against Christ and questioned that God was with Him (vv. 1–2; Matt. 27), but He knew that His Father would keep and deliver Him, and therefore He prayed (vv. 3–4; Matt. 26:39). Answering His prayers, God gave Him victory by raising Him from the dead (v. 7; Heb. 5:7; 8:1). Salvation for Him and, through Him, for us is of the Lord (v. 8). When troubles surround you, how can you rest by faith in Christ who went ahead of you through distress, and how will He help you endure to the end?

In times of difficulty and distress, we should always quickly go to God in prayer. His past deliverances are so many pledges of future deliverances. Since He has proved to be our faithful heavenly Father, let us always hope in God. Remembering the past provides fuel for faith. We must understand that God, in His grace, has made us for Himself. We are meant to be His: bound in covenant to Him, desiring a closer walk with Him, and serving Him in life and death with a single eye to His glory. What comfort will this provide us as we look ahead to our future in heaven with Him? 

This psalm is indirectly messianic, for Christ too experienced profound distress, even unto death, and was set free (Acts 2:24). On earth men denied His glory and falsely accused Him, but He knew God had set Him apart and would hear His prayers. Through the gospel, He calls upon sinners to fear the Lord, quiet their hearts in submission, and trust in the Lord—offering them peace that passes understanding. Have you heard Christ’s gospel call? To what degree do you enjoy His peace? 

Never let us be content with saying our prayers. What God requires of us is not formality but personally drawing near to His presence at the throne of grace. True religion is finding, knowing, and enjoying God—do not be satisfied with anything less than this. True believers have much to be joyful about: God is our portion; we are precious in His sight; and our sins are all forgiven. In addition to all this, God sees our tears, hears our sighs, and is able and willing to answer our prayers. How is it then that we are so often cast down? How can loving God’s name lead us into more joy?  

Jesus Christ, though God Himself, was also a man and the Mediator for men, and so was much in prayer (Matt. 26:39; Mark 1:35; 6:41,46; Luke 5:16; John 11:41; 17:1). He called God, “my God,” as One in covenant with Him (Matt. 27:46; John 20:17). Through prayer, Christ found strength to overcome His wicked enemies despite their lies and violence. How can we, in union with Christ, find the strength we need as well?  

God will not allow sin in His children to go unchecked. When troubles come our way, we do well to examine ourselves to find out if God is correcting us for some sin in conduct or heart. Whatever the case, we must take it to God in prayer and not give up. If we are truly His by faith in the covenant, God has graciously bound Himself to hear when we call on Him. Though the trial drags on and you feel exhausted, cling by faith in Jesus Christ to God’s faithful love. How can this psalm help depressed Christians? 

Amazingly, the sinless Lord Jesus experienced God’s punishment for sin, for the sins of Christ’s people were counted toward Him (Isa. 53:4–5; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). Eternity was compressed into time as Christ bore the curse to redeem sinners from everlasting fire. He felt abandoned by His Father’s loving presence, and clung to Him as His faithful, covenant God (Matt. 27:46). However, God did not leave Him in the tomb, but raised Him up to the glory of the Father forever. One day, Christ will return to judge all His enemies who have not repented, and they will “be ashamed and sore vexed” just as Christ was “sore vexed” by sinners (vv. 10,3). Will you be counted among Christ’s people? Worship Him for the salvation He procured on our behalf.  

Believers can be misrepresented and even slandered in this world. Thankfully, we can always turn to God who knows everything and never did anyone wrong. In times of trouble, our prayers need to be, as here, not formal and heartless, but serious, fervent, and insistent. This should be followed through with persuasive arguments and earnest appeals, as Abraham, Jacob, Moses and others did in former times, striving with God and ultimately prevailing. What relief might we experience as we pour out our hearts to Him, telling Him all that has been said and just how we presently feel? 

The Lord Jesus Christ patiently endured the slander and abuse of the wicked because he “committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). He leaned His human soul upon the righteous character of His God and trusted that the Father would make all things right. Through the Spirit, Christ imparts to His suffering people the patient and prayerful character He forged in the fires of persecution. How can we “put on Christ” when we are in the fire or even before it comes?  

Human theories about the origins of world and mankind lead to depravity, degradation, and despair. However, the truth is that God gave man high privileges and dignity in His creation. It glorifies the Lord for man to rule the world. Honoring God does not drag men and women down, except from their self-made thrones of arrogance. Though God’s people are weak and lowly like children, they have a nobility about them, for they are children of the King, destined to reign with Him. What is one way that you could be mindful to treat every man, woman, and child as a person of dignity? 

This psalm about man finds its fulfillment in the man Jesus Christ. The New Testament four times applies this psalm to Christ, the last Adam (Matt. 21:15–16; 1 Cor. 15:22–27; Eph. 1:20–22; Heb. 2:6–9). He is the glorious Creator, who with His Father fashioned all the universe (John 1:1–3; Heb. 1:2–3). He has regarded our helpless estate and has taken our nature to Himself, so that through His humiliation and exaltation, the Father would be glorified forever (Phil. 2:6–11). How does seeing Christ in this psalm give us hope that God’s noble purpose for man will be completely fulfilled? 

It is important to remember that God holds our eternal destiny in His hands. He will judge all mankind in righteousness. Even before judgment day, death snatches people away from this world. If we know the Lord and seek Him, He will never forsake us. However, if we put God behind our backs and forget Him, then He will cast us into hell. Thomas Manton said, “As they cast God out of their mind and affections, so God will cast them out of his presence.” Are you prepared for death? Why or why not? 

Christ echoed the thoughts of this psalm when He said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). The greatest people on earth are but men. Christ’s life was an embodiment of this principle, as He faced powerful and violent enemies with boldness and determination borne out of a childlike fear of the Lord. As we wait for Christ to return, how can we follow Him in this path? 

If in a time of trouble we sometimes feel God is standing at a distance from us, so that we no longer have the comfortable sense of His presence, we must concentrate on prayer. With a holy boldness, we need to lay hold of Him. Although we should never complain of Him, we are permitted to complain to Him. One of the chief complaints of the godly is the success of the wicked. Sadly, the world in which we live is one where the fear of God is often conspicuous by its absence. Atheism, humanism, and secularism have usurped the place of true religion, producing bitter fruits in society. The church’s prayer and hope is that God will arise on behalf of His people. He will bring His kingdom by His Word and Spirit, by His providence, and ultimately by the second coming of His Son. How does this psalm teach us to pray for persecuted believers as we wait for His coming? 

Sometimes the powers of evil seem to have swept the field, and the best the godly can hope for is to hide in desperation. The thought may come to us to desert our post and forsake the work to which God has called us, but this is rarely the right thing to do. We must remember that if we are Christians, our foundation is not set upon anything that man can destroy, but upon God’s character and His Word. No matter what happens, God is the righteous Judge and He is on the throne. How can faith in who God is give us courage to stand firm against impossible odds? 

Christ faced death threats (Luke 13:31) and schemes to murder Him (Luke 22:2), and yet He set His face to do His Father’s will. He knew that not one of the arrows of the wicked could kill Him until the Father’s appointed time, and then His death would glorify God. He trusted that the righteous Lord would glorify Him, but “fire and brimstone” would fall upon the wicked (Luke 17:29–30). Does your heart ever tell you to fly like a bird to the mountains? Pray to find strength in the Lord Jesus and stand firm when those times come. 

Even in times when the church seems to disappear and the lies of the wicked threaten to drown us, believers can cling to the perfect trustworthiness of the Bible. God’s Word is as precious as pure silver. It contains no error in anything it teaches. If we have a right estimate of its worth, we shall surely treasure it in our hearts, follow its pure precepts, and trust its pure promises. Thank God for His infallible truth, especially in this time of mass falling away and confusion. It is confidence in Holy Scripture that will enable you to pray with hope, “Help, Lord!” How can the trustworthiness of God’s Word strengthen you in times of spiritual darkness? 

The Lord’s people sometimes experience spiritual desertion when they feel abandoned in their afflictions without His presence, yet that desertion is never total or final. Jehovah is always there for believers. And so although their troubles may last long, they will not last forever. It is always best to cast our burdens on the Lord rather than mulling them over in our hearts trying to find solutions on our own. God’s delays in answering us are not His rejection. When heaven seems silent to our prayers, how can we continue to cling to God’s faithful love? 

Christ also cried out, “How long?” as He endured the faithlessness and perversity of the human race in its slavery to the Devil (Matt. 17:17–18). It wearied His human soul to endure the constant presence of evil in our fallen world. Yet Christ did not despair, but persevered in His mission to bring justice to the world (Isa. 42:4). The greater His sorrow, the more He cast Himself upon the Father in prayer. Now, exalted to the right hand of God, He is able to fully sympathize with His weary people and to give them exactly the grace they need to endure (Heb. 2:18; 4:15–16). 

Atheism is no mere intellectual problem: it is a manifestation of sin in the naturally deceptive heart. It stands contrary to the light of nature that so evidently reveals the existence and glory of God, not to speak of the clear revelation of God in His Word. In fact the conscious decision to deny God leads invariably to a lifestyle that is corrupt. Sadly there are many who may not profess to be doctrinal atheists but nonetheless live as though God does not exist, a practical atheism. Even some professing Christians approach that kind of atheism. How can we seek to have God in all our thoughts? 

During His ministry, our Lord Jesus spoke of “the fool” who for all practical purposes denied the reality of God (Luke 11:40; 12:20). As the great prophet of the church, Christ revealed not only the goodness of God but also the evils of man, rooted in the corruption of our hearts (Matt. 7:17; 12:33–34; 15:19; 19:17; John 7:7). He taught that men were unable and unwilling to understand and to seek God (Matt. 13:15; John 6:44; 8:43). If we would count ourselves Christians, we must receive Christ’s teaching about the corruption of mankind. How should this truth affect us? 

While the ground of our salvation is the finished work of Jesus Christ, the evidence of our faith in Him is a life of godliness and holiness. It is right and good that we subject ourselves to self-examination, so that as we discern marks of grace, we may attain to a good measure of assurance that we will inherit eternal life. Examine your life for these evidences of a true faith: a life of integrity, obedience to God’s laws, honesty and sincerity of heart, not seeking to harm others with your words or actions, despising the wicked and honoring those who fear God, and not cheating or exploiting people. What does self-examination reveal about your status in God’s kingdom? 

The man described in this psalm is preeminently the Son of God. He lived in pure and sincere righteousness, enduring much slander but always speaking the truth in love (1 Peter 1:19; 2:23). Rather than exploiting others, He became poor in order that they might be made rich forever (2 Cor. 8:9). He reigns in God’s heavenly Zion (2:6) as the Father expresses His unending pleasure in His Son’s obedient life and death (Phil. 2:8–9). Those who are united with Christ by faith are justified by His righteousness and sanctified by the Spirit to become like Him. How should believers’ union with this righteous Lord give them hope that they too will share in His kingdom? 

This psalm is directly messianic. David wrote it as a prophet of the Lord, knowing that God would raise Christ from the dead to reign forever in fulfillment of God’s covenant with David (1 Chron. 17:11–12; Acts 2:30). It is not about David, who died, was buried, and his body returned to dust (Acts 2:29; 13:36). Thus the Scriptures revealed the resurrection of Christ centuries before He was born. How does this help you to have absolute confidence that the Bible is true, and Jesus is the Christ? 

This psalm sheds light upon the hope that strengthened Christ to endure and “the joy that was set before him” by which He despised the shame of the cross (Heb. 12:2). The incarnate Lord Jesus lived in daily dependence upon God. He believed God’s promise to raise Him from the dead and to bring Him and His people into an eternal fullness of life and joy in the manifest glory of God. The Son loves the Father and counts Him to be His eternal portion and delight. How does this encourage your own faith in God? 

The Lord Jesus taught us by His example that in trouble and sorrow we must turn to God and count Him and His people to be all our joy. He is to believers far more than we could ever need, and in His hands is our spiritual and eternal happiness. It is good for Christians to keep in mind what we have in our God, lest we be tempted by the possessions and pleasures of the world. In Him we have a suitable, sufficient, soulsatisfying, secure, and everlasting portion. Compared to Him, the world offers us nothing and cannot harm our true source of happiness. How should that affect the way we view death? How should that affect the way we view this world? 

While we can never lay claim in this life to sinless perfection, it is greatly to our comfort if before men we have the testimony of a good conscience, especially at times when we are wrongly criticized. We should not be overly troubled by the censures of men. God knows us for what we really are. How can this help us to maintain our constant desire to please Him and wait for His vindication? 

Christ well understands what it was like to be surrounded by wicked men, and to wait quietly upon God’s justice as they attacked Him like lions. If ever there was a person with the right to cry out for justice, it was the innocent Son of God. Yet He received insult and injury so very meekly. How does this psalm show us the way to follow in Christ’s footsteps? 

All believers, like David, should confess love for the Lord their God, because they have experienced how He hears and answers their prayers. Our troubles and conflicts become opportunities to experience the many ways the Lord is our strength. When God hears our prayers and rescues us, let us give public testimony for His glory. How has God answered your prayers? How have you glorified Him for it? 

God’s works of salvation center upon the salvation of His anointed king (v. 50). David’s song in this way foreshadows Christ’s salvation. Though caught in the ropes of death (vv. 4–5; Acts 2:24), the Lord delivered Him because God delights in His righteousness (vv. 19–24). With a great earthquake (v. 7), He was drawn out of the depths of death (v. 16). 

Therefore, Christ rules over all the nations (vv. 43–44) and is leading them to praise, exalt, and give thanks to the living God (vv. 46,49). How does this psalm help you to see the glory of Christ? How can that move us to love God? 3. David described God’s intervention to save him from Saul in terms of an earthquake, fire, cosmic disruption, flying angels, and a violent hailstorm. Such figurative language points forward to the day of the Lord (Ezek. 38:19–23; Matt. 24:27–31). Christ will return as both God and the anointed Son of David to save His people and destroy His enemies. How does God’s faithfulness to His covenant in the past assure us of His guarantee to honor it in the future?

God graciously reveals Himself. This is grace to us, for our knowledge of Him is completely dependent on what He chooses to reveal. God constantly reveals to all mankind His being and basic attributes through the natural revelation of what He created. No one has any excuse for not worshiping the Lord. Yet nature conveys no saving message: it justly condemns man for refusing to glorify God but it does not point to the remedy. God’s special revelation of His Word is the means of grace that reveals the wonderful remedy to condemnation. The Scripture is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Nowhere else do we learn of the Lord as the Redeemer of sinners— God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Praise God for His creation and the Bible which are both means of revelation. Are you taking time each day to read what God has caused to be written? 

Significantly, David communes with God in response to God’s communication. There is always a link between God’s Word and prayer. It is a link that we should use daily. While creation should fill us with awe toward God, only the Bible can teach us how to draw near to God as a forgiven and transformed people in acceptable worship. How can we use each benefit of Scripture (vv. 7–11) as a means of guiding our prayers? 

Warfare is part of the Christian life, and believers are called to fight the battles of the Lord (Eph. 6:10–18). It is important that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual (2 Cor. 10:4). We often use human means, but they will do nothing apart from the power of God’s Spirit and the victory of Jesus Christ. How can we make better use of the greatest means of victory in our spiritual battles—prayer and faith in God’s Word? 

The troubles and victories of Israel’s kings foreshadowed the great crisis and victory of Christ. Christ knew His day of trouble, especially toward the end of His life. He prayed to His Father to grant Him strength. He offered His righteous life and sacrificial death to God for sinners—and God fulfilled all of Christ’s holy desires. His people rejoice in His victory, for they do not trust in themselves, but in the character of their Lord. How does this psalm help explain what it means for us to pray, “Thy kingdom come”? 

The royal psalms point to Christ, the ideal King. Supported by the strength of God, Christ rejoices in the salvation given to Him and His people from their enemies. He obtains these blessings by prayer and intercession, and now reigns with great honor and joy upon His heavenly throne. One day He will return to judge the wicked with devouring fire so that all their schemes against His kingdom will fail. The ultimate purpose of His reign is the exaltation of the Lord in the praises of His people. Christ’s victories are the victories of all who belong to Him by faith. How does this psalm encourage you and give you hope? 

The first part of this psalm concerns the suffering Savior (vv. 1–21). This is holy   ground, allowing us to enter in a small way into the experience of Christ. Here is the   man who has faithfully kept covenant with God since His birth (vv. 9–10). And yet He   cries out in anguish, “Why hast thou forsaken me?” (v. 1). The answer to this question   addresses the very heart of the atonement. God does not forsake the faithful, but the   wicked that break His covenant (9:10; 37:28; 94:14; Deut. 31:16–17). Why then did   Christ suffer? Christ died for sinners. God withdrew all sense of His gracious presence   from His faithful Son and placed upon Him all the guilt and punishment due to the sins   of His people (Isa. 53:5–6,8). On this basis, Christ can save sinners from all the penalty   of their sins. How does this psalm humble us? How does it call us to place all our trust   in Christ?   

The second part of this psalm concerns the successful Savior (vv. 22–31). God answered   the prayers of His afflicted Son and delivered Him from evil (v. 24). Therefore, the Son   proclaims God’s glory to the world and calls people to praise the Lord. The testimony of   His salvation will effectively turn people from every nation to repent and seek God in   humble faith and worship (vv. 26–27). This worldwide mission will continue for   generations (v. 31). How is Christ doing this today?  

The title of Shepherd belongs to Christ as the God-man, the Lord, and the Son of David (Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:12–16,23,31; Zech. 13:7; John 10:1–16,27–30). He fulfills this role with very special care for His people’s souls (Luke 15:3–7; 1 Peter 2:25). It is no small comfort, especially in difficult and sad times, to realize that the Lord Jesus is looking after us as our wise and gentle leader, provider, and protector. How can the promises of this psalm give comfort and peace to believers in Christ? 

Without distracting from Christ’s loving work as the Shepherd of His people, it is also possible to see Jesus experiencing in His humanity the blessings of knowing God as His shepherd. Christ followed the will of God meekly like a lamb, even to the death (Isa. 53:7). He looked to the Father to protect Him and provide for His needs. Even in the presence of enemies, the Father granted Him the satisfaction of doing His will by the anointing of the Spirit. Now the Lord Jesus dwells in His Father’s house forever. How would Christ’s experience as a sheep help Him to care for us as our Shepherd? 

This psalm found glorious fulfillment in the ascension of Christ to heaven. Truly the Lord Jesus had fought a bitter war against sin at the cost of His own blood. But He proved Himself mighty in battle and went up into heaven as the risen King of glory. What must it have been like for the angels and saints to greet Him on that day? How does it comfort believers on earth to know that the Crucified One is now the Lord of glory? 

Like Ps. 15, this psalm reminds us that only those purified by grace will enter into God’s holy presence. Justification by faith alone gives us our title to heaven, but the sanctification of our lives gives us a fitness to enter and enjoy it, for heaven is a holy place. Those who desire to dwell with the King of glory must begin submitting themselves to His reign even now. How do vv. 3–4 teach us what that means in practical terms?

This psalm sets a pattern for praying to know God’s will. Since He is good, delighting in our well-being, He will give directions if we humbly seek Him with a teachable spirit. A key element in discerning God’s will is to submit to it even before we know it (John 7:17). We shall find that He will fulfill His promise according to His rich mercy and unchanging truth. If we fear Him, He will lead us. To fear God is to factor Him into every thought and situation, to live in the reality of God. It is not a terror that keeps us distant from God, but a friendship that brings us under His intimate guidance. God’s Son lived in daily dependence and reverence for His Father, seeking to do His will because it was His will (Isa. 50:4–5). If we seek to trust in Christ, His Spirit will enable us to do the same. How does this psalm illuminate what it means to live as God’s child? 

The person who professes to trust in the Lord must live a consistent godly life. But being aware of the deceitfulness of our hearts even when we have a clear conscience, we should be willing, not only to examine ourselves, but for the great searcher of hearts to examine us. We may pray for God to judge us, not to be condemned, but that we might repent of sins and walk in the good way that pleases God. How often do you pray for God to show you your sins? How often should you? 

David’s resolve to walk with integrity is a mirror of Christ’s absolute determination to avoid all sin (101:2–4; John 8:46; 14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21). Though the Lord Jesus loved sinners, He kept Himself separate and unstained from the world’s corruption (Heb. 7:26). This is the basis of our salvation, for believers are in union with Him. How and why do we pursue holiness in our own lives? 

The Lord is our light in the sense that He reveals to us our sin through the law and our Savior through the gospel. Then in our experience He becomes our salvation. He then proves to be our strength, enabling us to persevere. The Lord Jesus found His own strength in God’s presence with Him (Isa. 50:6–9), and His strength becomes ours through the Spirit (Phil. 1:18–19). Christ is thus everything to the believer, and the believer’s great desire is to be with Him and see His beauty. He taught us to make Him our “one thing” above all earthly treasures and activities (v. 4; Luke 10:42; 18:22). The apostle Paul likewise made Christ the “one thing” he pursued (Phil. 3:8,13). Let us seek Him in all that we do, and view all His good gifts as valuable only insofar as they help us to glorify and enjoy Him. What practical difference would it make in your life if you began to pursue Christ with this single-minded focus? 

In the troubles of this life, men react in different ways, but the godly man will turn to the living and true God who, like a massive rock, is a shelter in the storm and a shade in the heat. This God is everything we need. Yet we must not approach Him as hypocrites, who may say fine prayers to God and nice words to people while their lives cry out for punishment from God’s justice. Rather, we must draw near to God as those coming under His shepherding care, submitting to His sovereign authority. Why do we often turn to other sources for the help and strength we need? 

The salvation of God’s people is inseparably bound up with God’s power with His anointed king (vv. 7–8). God’s power for believers is precisely the power by which He raised Christ and exalted Him to the highest place (Eph. 1:19–21). Our strength to fight Satan is to be strong in the Lord Jesus (Eph. 6:10–12). This has two great implications. First, we must have a real union with Christ by faith, or we will never be saved. Second, we must enjoy regular communion with Christ by daily exercising our faith in Him, or our experience of salvation will be crippled. How does David’s example (v. 1) teach us to cling to Christ with holy desperation? 

Nature can be very impressive, but when confronted with its power and might, we should raise our thoughts to the God behind it who is the cause of its great wonders. How great He is! We should bow in fear before Him, ever showing profound reverence. If a mighty thunderstorm raging over the ocean can inspire fear and awe, how much more should the Lord who controls it by His mere word (Matt. 8:26–27). What things in nature produce awe in you? What do they show you about God? 

The voice of natural revelation can produce fear, but true worship only arises among the people who have God’s Word (v. 9). The wonders of the natural world need not terrify them, for the God of the storm is also the Lord who speaks peace to His people (v. 11). They view God’s power with joyful awe and reverent comfort, for He is their God in Christ. How should faith in Christ affect the way we face the frightening power of storms and other potentially dangerous things? 

David had grown self-confident, interpreting all that God had done for him as evidence of invincibility. His power had gone to his head, and he looked to the power of man instead of the Lord. God sent judgment to awaken David to his spiritual senses, bringing him back to reality. David’s experience warns us not to rest in the blessings of God rather than in the God who blesses. Take time to express your gratitude to God for His discipline of us, for the dependence it instills in us, and for the humility we gain—our pathway to joy. 

Christ never rested His confidence in His human ability, but constantly looked to God for His present and future success (John 14:10). Yet Christ did experience God’s anger as He received the curse for the sins of His people (Gal. 3:13), and then entered into the eternal glory and joy for which He was destined (Matt. 25:21; Luke 24:26; Heb. 12:2). How can Christ’s experience of sorrow leading to eternal joy give courage and hope to those who follow Him? 

If our trust is in God through Christ, we shall never be disappointed; instead, we may have strong confidence to face whatever is before us. We should not only believe in the sovereignty of God, but also apply it when in any trouble. Our times of sorrow and of joy are all in His hands. Though men may attack us with lies, God will hide us in His presence, and He has prepared rich goodness for our future with Him. How does it help you today to know that the best is yet to come for believers in Christ?  

Even when Christ was broken on the cross and insulted by His enemies, He took up the prayer of this psalm and offered it to His Father, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” (v. 5; Luke 23:46). His whole life was a model of submission to God’s sovereign will (vv. 14–15). How does His example stir us to entrust ourselves to God? 

The gospel of forgiveness is the basis of the repentant sinner’s happiness. It is most wonderful to know that our sin is covered and forgiven. Though sin is offensive to God, He is ready to pardon and faithful to forgive sins as soon as we turn back to Him in honest confession. It is a foolish thing to go without confessing, for delay only causes misery of heart to the true Christian, and endangers the unbeliever with unending sorrows. It is pointless to try ourselves to cover our sins before the all-knowing God. However, when we stop making excuses and openly confess our guilt before God, we discover the blessedness of His forgiveness. Why is it so sweet to a sinner to know that he is completely forgiven by God? 

The forgiveness of sinners is possible because of the death of Christ, represented to Old Testament Israel in promises of a suffering Savior (22:1; Gen. 3:15) and the types of the sacrifices (Lev. 4:20). Sin is not counted to believers because it was imputed to Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). The Lord Jesus bore the guilt of sin so that His people would be released from its consequences and its hold upon their consciences (Isa. 53:5–6; Heb. 9:14). God hears our prayers of confession because of Christ’s prayers of intercession. How can you better incorporate prayers of confession into your daily habits? 

Joyful, reverent, and fervent praise springs from knowing God in His power. The denial of the doctrine of creation directly undermines the worship of God, as does the denial of His sovereign control over all things, including the hearts of men. Our God reigns over the whole world and no one can defeat His will. It is no small comfort to the church that His saving plan shall be fulfilled, no matter what mankind may do to thwart it. Faith in God’s sovereignty produces both the fear of the Lord and hope in His faithful love. Why is it crucial for us to worship this aspect of Him? 

Christ rejoiced in the sovereignty of God. He taught the doctrine of creation, arguing on that basis that the Creator has the authority to determine the meaning of marriage (Matt. 19:4–6). He revealed the Father’s control over the smallest details of His creation (Matt. 6:26,30; 10:29–30). The Son of God also worshiped His Father for determining whom He would save through the gospel (Matt. 11:25–27). Furthermore, in His divine nature, Christ is the sovereign Creator (Heb. 1:2,10), the Son who with the Father and Spirit made all things and rules them for the salvation of God’s elect (John 1:1–3; 17:2). Use this psalm as a song of worship for Christ, in whom we trust. 

The title links this psalm to David’s retreat to the Philistines in order to escape from Saul. In trying to flee from one enemy he ran to another, only to learn that salvation comes by fearing and trusting the Lord. Now through inspired song he would teach others to turn from sin and to humbly look to the Lord. The key to safety is repenting of sin and praying to God. In moments of crisis do you immediately seek help from the Lord or do you tend to depending on our own schemes? Why? 

The statement, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (v. 19), applies to no one more than Jesus Christ. He experienced horrible pain and cried out to God in agony of soul (Heb. 5:7). Considering His sufferings, one may question this psalm’s promises of protection for the faithful. How can they be true of anyone if not of God’s Son? However, this psalm finds a surprising fulfillment in the crucified Lord, for even on the cross, not one of His bones was broken (v. 20; John 19:31–36). God was still with Christ, guaranteeing to the smallest detail that His mission as the Lamb of God would take place as promised (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12). In the same way, God does not promise to shield His faithful ones from all suffering, but He orders our sufferings so that nothing will defeat His good purposes for our lives (Rom. 8:28,35–39). How does this change the way we view the trials we face? 

One of the most perplexing experiences of the righteous is facing false accusations from those whom we have loved. Such charges can break our hearts, mar our good reputation, and bring down unjust legal and social consequences. In life’s troubles and conflicts, we must always remember that God is ready to stand for our defense. If we belong to Jesus Christ, then He is our Judge and Advocate. A desire for vindication is not necessarily selfish or vengeful, for God is glorified in the good of His servants (v. 27). How then should we pray in such circumstances? 

Christ wept over sinners in His compassion (Luke 19:41), but the wicked hated Him without cause (John 15:25). They accused the Innocent One of blasphemy against God and rebellion against the state, producing many false witnesses in their scrambling attempts to condemn Him to death (Matt. 26:59; Mark 14:57). Though He loved them, He also proclaimed the judgment of God against them for murdering the Son of God (Matt. 21:33–44; Luke 19:27,42–44). God raised Him from the dead and is now greatly glorified in the display of His pleasure in His Son. How can Christ’s experiences give us comfort and hope when we suffer unjustly for His sake? 

This psalm reveals the horrible corruption of the human heart. Though created by God and living in His world, man does not honor the Lord with true reverence. Instead of glorifying God, he flatters himself. His heart is a constant fountain of lies and evil. Despite all his pride, his destiny is to be cast down, never to rise again. This diagnosis reveals the desperate need of humanity for Jesus Christ. They need Christ to give them a new heart by His Spirit so that they will repent, and receive forgiveness for their sins so that God will not punish them. See in this psalm a description of yourself as you are by nature. How does it affect you? 

In amazing contrast to the wickedness of man, the perfect character of God shines like a thousand diamonds in this text. God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice tower over mankind like an awesome range of mountains, and elude our full comprehension like the depths of the ocean. Yet God does not stand aloof from fallen man, but He draws sinners to Him through faith in Christ so that His goodness becomes their eternal satisfaction. The gospel call is an invitation to a feast, and Christ is both the host and the food for sinners. Are you hungry? Are you eating? 

The success of the wicked tests the faith of the righteous. The apparent contradiction between the promises of prosperity to the godly (1:3) and our experiences in a fallen world can provoke us to confusion, anxiety, and bitterness. This psalm encourages believers to look to the Lord in faith, and look forward to the future with hope. Resting in the Lord and seeking happiness in Him provides contentment regardless of life’s circumstances. By faith in God’s promises, we see the end of all things and know that the wicked, though prospering in this life, have no future, but the righteous will receive a glorious inheritance. How do you need to put these two principles into practice? 

The Lord Jesus used the wisdom of this psalm in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:5,7,16; 6:8,25,30,33; 7:23). He also exemplified the life recommended here through His trust in His Father, delight in Him, good works, patient endurance of the wicked, meekness and self-restraint, and hope in a future inheritance. Thus His mouth spoke wisdom because the law of God filled His heart (vv. 30–31). This gives Him all the more moral authority to call us to embrace Ps. 37 as well. How does this show us the importance of having a teacher of God’s Word who also lives out God’s Word in his own life? 

Without the realization of our sinfulness, we will not feel any need for the Savior. The Holy Spirit applies the law of God to the conscience to produce a piercing conviction of sin, a sense of God’s wrath, and a cry for salvation (John 16:8; Acts 2:37; 16:27,30; Rom. 3:20; 4:15). The mark of a believer is turning back to God with hatred of sin and prayers for mercy. Even if our friends turn away from us in our distress, we can rest assured that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is full of mercy to repentant sinners (Luke 15:17–24). Is the Lord convicting you of sin? How are you responding? 

If conviction of sin horrifies sinners, what must it have been like for Christ to experience the guilt of countless sinners placed upon His sinless person (Isa. 53:6)? This troubled Him deeply (John 12:27). In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus staggered under a fearful apprehension of divine wrath (Mark 14:33). His situation was aggravated further when He was surrounded by those who hated Him without cause (John 15:25). His best friends abandoned Him (Matt. 26:31). Yet as He agonized on the cross, bearing our sins, He entrusted Himself to God (1 Peter 2:23–24). When we come under conviction of sin, we can find relief by faith in Him because He was crushed for sinners. How should this both humble and release us? 

Emotional outbursts do not honor God. The believer needs to keep a careful watch of his tongue, for it can be the instrument of many sins. Particularly when under pressure, we must do everything to ensure that what we say is ordered by grace, pleasing to God, and edifying to others. Controlling our mouths also helps us to engage our minds to think about life’s uncertainty, brevity, frailty, vanity, futility, anxiety, and stupidity (if we live for this world). As foreigners in this world, how can we, as Christians, discipline ourselves to fix our hope on God? 

Christ was resolved not to sin, not even in His speech when wicked men taunted Him (1 Peter 2:21–23). This was particularly evident at the end of His life when, arraigned before the Jewish and Gentile rulers of the nation, He maintained a dignified silence (Isa. 53:7; Matt. 26:63; Luke 23:9–10; John 19:8–9). However, Christ was human, and we must not forget the holy power He had to exercise in order to control Himself in this way. That same power comes to believers in Christ through the Holy Spirit. How can we draw from Christ’s self-control to grow in holy quietness? 

Even in the Old Testament, the righteous understood that animal sacrifices could not please God, who desires sincere and perfect obedience from people (vv. 6–8). However, God had instituted the sacrifices to give people a picture of atonement by substitution. These two great themes of Scripture come together in Christ’s work of complete atonement by perfect obedience (Heb. 10:5–10). Christ took up the words of this psalm when He came to do the will of His Father who sent Him to save the world (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38–40). God’s will required His descent into the horrible pit of death under God’s curse for sins more numerable than the hairs of His head (John 10:17–18; Gal. 1:4; 3:10,13). The incarnate God willingly humbled Himself and obeyed all the way to the cross (Phil. 2:6–8). Because of Christ’s obedience His Father exalted Him to the highest place (Phil. 2:9–11). Take time to extol Him in worship. 

Perfect delight in obeying God’s will characterizes Christ alone among all who have walked upon this earth. Yet He shares His heart of obedience by His Spirit with the people in union with Him (119:32; Deut. 30:6,8; 2 Chron. 30:12; Jer. 31:33; Rom. 7:22; 2 Cor. 3:3; Heb. 8:10; 10:7,16). True believers can never be satisfied with merely going through the motions of outward worship. What is the evidence that by grace a person delights to do God’s will and that God’s law is within his heart? 

When misunderstood and misrepresented, we should remember that this has always been the experience of God’s people (and was the experience of the Lord Himself). This happens to believers because they have grace, which is no small comfort. In all life’s conflicts, they must look up and realize that God, in love, is looking down. The Lord Jesus fully understands the pain of treachery and betrayal, for He experienced it from one of His own apostles. He looks upon Christians with great sympathy as their hearts are broken through unfaithful friends. Through the love of our God, they shall persevere and endure; and one day, set before His face, they shall know that it has been worth it all to behold Him in His glory. In the meantime, how can giving ourselves to serving people in need, strengthen our assurance in God’s faithfulness? 

There is a natural thirst common to everyone who seeks good and happiness (4:6), but there is also a spiritual thirst produced within them when by the Holy Spirit they taste God’s goodness and desire to be fully satisfied with Him (36:8–9; 1 Peter 2:2–3). True believers can only be satisfied by the presence, grace, and comfort of God. Experiencing God’s presence should be like a desperate thirst that must be quenched. If depressed, we need to preach to ourselves, even to argue with ourselves, to hope in the Lord and keep seeking Him. In times of spiritual exhaustion, to what lengths are you willing to go to find your satisfaction in the Lord? 

Christ experienced horrible physical thirst on the cross (John 19:28), but far worse was His thirst for the departed presence of God (Matt. 27:46). He suffered the deprivation of good that is the doom of sinners (Isa. 65:13; Luke 16:24). Taking the curse for us, He won for us the blessing. As a result, Christ can now satisfy the deepest thirsts of mankind through the Holy Spirit (John 4:14; 7:37–39; Rev. 21:6; 22:17). The question is, do you thirst for God? How do you know?

Believers may experience inward anxiety and despondency, but they need not settle into despair. They know that God is their festival of joy. Even if they are not feeling joy now, they should stir themselves to hope in God and persevere in prayer for growth in grace and truth. No one experienced deeper darkness than Christ, and no one has entered into richer joy. The Lord Jesus is able to shepherd His people through their times of sorrow. The key for believers is keeping their focus upon God and giving glory to Him. Howdoes this psalm direct the despondent believer to pray?

The God of then is the God of now. Reflecting on the great works of God in the past, whether in biblical times or in church history, should increase our desires and prayers for God to do great things in our day. When we recognize that God is not with us as He has been with His servants in some periods of history, we should give ourselves to relentless prayer that God would arise for our help. This is not to demand that the extraordinary be experienced every day, but pray for more grace while you persevere in faithfulness today. 

That we should suffer as a consequence of our sins should not surprise us, but it may perplex us when we glorify God and find ourselves as sheep appointed for the slaughter (vv. 11,22). Yet Paul cited this truth as the common experience of God’s children (Rom. 8:36). He did so in the context of explaining the consequences of their union with Christ by the Spirit: God’s children suffer with God’s Son so that we can be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17). This same union with Christ, however, guarantees that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Rom. 8:37–39). Though God may seem to sleep and neglect His children (v. 23), He remains the King who fights for His people (vv. 4,26), and in Him we are more than conquerors. Why is it so hard to live in the tension of this paradox? How can Christians exercise their faith in such trials? 

The expressions of this psalm can hardly refer to anyone else but the incarnate Lord Jesus, both God and the human Son of David, as the New Testament confirms (Heb. 1:8–9). Neither Solomon nor any king in Israel’s monarchy could be rightly addressed as “God” without further qualification (v. 6), nor receive the eternal praise of the people (v. 17). Even in the Old Testament, believers looked for a coming king who would be God and man (Isa. 9:6). What light does this psalm shed on your understanding of Christ and the church? 

Meditate on Christ as the king-husband and His church as the queen-bride. The King is beautiful beyond words. With His might He protects and defends His bride. His Father delights in His righteousness and anoints Him to reign with joy by the Holy Spirit. The King shares His royal glory with His bride and delights in her. She submits to Him in total adoration. How do the words of this psalm move you to love the Lord Jesus? How do they call us to treat His church? 

The great reformer Martin Luther claimed this to be his psalm. It provided the inspiration of his well-known hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” often called the battle hymn of the Reformation. It expresses a kind of confident security in the Lord that ought to be the experience of every believer when facing or anticipating the crises of life. God is the comfort and salvation of His people in their troubles, even when disasters shake their world. 

The principle of “Immanuel” (God with us) pervades the Old Testament and reaches its climax in the incarnation. The Son of God became our living tabernacle and sanctuary when He took on human flesh (John 1:14). Though ascended into heaven, His Spirit remains with the church as a constant stream of living water (John 7:37–39). Thus Christ is with us in His authority over all things, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:18–20). If He is with us, who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)? How does this psalm teach us to handle our fears? 

There is hardly a more practical truth for daily living than the absolute sovereignty of God. He is the supreme King over all, and merely human kings are under His dominion. The wicked attempt to escape from His authority but in the end will face it with terror. The godly find in God’s sovereignty a joyous cause for praise and confidence. There should be no place for pessimism, only glorious optimism. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of God and Christ. How would you describe biblical optimism? How should it affect believers in their daily lives? 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of God’s kingdom (Isa. 52:7; Mark 1:14– 15). Thus the gospel announces that Christ is Lord over all and calls all who hear it to enter by faith into covenant relationship with the God of Abraham. How should an optimistic view of God’s kingdom affect how Christians approach missions and evangelism? How can faith that God is King strengthen the church when its efforts to reach the lost are frustrated or provoke persecution? 

There is hardly a more practical truth for daily living than the absolute sovereignty of God. He is the supreme King over all, and merely human kings are under His dominion. The wicked attempt to escape from His authority but in the end will face it with terror. The godly find in God’s sovereignty a joyous cause for praise and confidence. There should be no place for pessimism, only glorious optimism. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of God and Christ. How would you describe biblical optimism? How should it affect believers in their daily lives? 

There are so many who think that wealth is all-important, but death will test people and their beliefs. Such men will then bitterly regret placing confidence in the things of this world. Only the living and true God can save in that dread hour. Many rich men now suffer in hell for their sins, without a single one of the comforts they enjoyed on earth (Luke 16:19–26). Unlike the unbelieving, believers possess the hope and expectation that, when they die, they shall see light—the light of God and the light of all the glories and beauties of the heavenly kingdom. Rest assured that those now in God’s everlasting kingdom have no regrets at all over the fact that, through grace, they once came to know God in Christ as their Redeemer and King. How can we strive to keep wealth in its proper perspective? 

Christ speaks as the great prophet and the voice of all true prophets, having authority to declare wisdom and truth to all people of this world (vv. 1–3). His teaching alone can enable us to view life and death, riches and poverty, in the right way. Christ said, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Are you listening to Christ? One test is whether you view the rich with awe and admiration (vv. 16–17), or set your hope upon the Lord and His redemption (v. 15). You cannot serve both God and money, and you cannot seek both earthly treasure and heavenly treasure (Matt. 6:19–24). What does this test show about your heart? 

One of our chief faults in life is to think that God is like ourselves (v. 21). People tend to be satisfied with religious rites, so they assume God will be satisfied as well. But ritual by itself, even those rituals commanded by God, mean nothing apart from a genuine heart of praise and obedience. To think of God as He has revealed Himself is to view Him as the God of power, authority, glory, wrath, righteousness, and faithfulness (vv. 1– 6). Such thoughts of God will lead us to worship Him in spirit and truth. What habits will encourage this kind of humble attentiveness to His Word and sincere repentance of sin?

In Christ, God has spoken to men (Heb. 1:2), calling them everywhere to the gospel that is preached in the world. His glory shines in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:3–6). Christ shall one day come again with fire (2 Thess. 1:8). He will gather His saints (Matt. 24:31; 2 Thess. 2:1) and punish the wicked, including religious hypocrites (Matt. 7:21–23). Does this frighten you or comfort you? Why? 

Nathan’s word of rebuke brought David to confession, but it was not required to remind David of his sin. A battle was raging inside that no one else could see. David saw his sin as a criminal offense, a ruinous stain, and ceremonial uncleanness. He was guilty, worthless, and unfit for worship. Although others were impacted by his sin, David acknowledged that he had primarily offended God and thus appealed to Him for mercy. His prayer is a model for believers seeking forgiveness and restoration through God’s mercy in Christ (1 John 1:5–10). What motivations does this psalm give to Christians to confess their sins? How does it teach us about how to confess our sins? Though it was written by a believer, how might it guide an unbeliever to seek salvation from his sins? 

The mention of “hyssop” beautifully connects repentance with faith in the cleansing power of the blood of a sacrifice for sins (v. 7). The stalk of this plant was used to apply the sacrifice directly to the unclean person. Hyssop was also used to put the blood of the Passover lamb upon the doorposts, so that death would not enter the home (Ex. 12:21– 22). Faith seeks the particular application of Christ’s blood to our sins, so that we may escape God’s wrath and draw near to His holy presence to worship Him. Has Christ’s blood been applied to your soul? 

The perversity of man is astonishing. The wicked do much harm with their lies, sometimes resulting in the death of many righteous people while the wicked grow in their power and wealth. Fallen mankind takes a horrible delight in its sins, actually choosing evil instead of good. The corruption of our race showed itself in the persecutions of David, and even more in the sufferings of Christ. Jesus felt the full force of unjust human hatred, and His cross should humble us with its declaration of how evil mankind has become, that we would do such a thing when God came to us. How can we learn to hate wickedness like God does? 

Though the wicked may seem to succeed and prosper, the Lord will rip them out of His world like noxious weeds. However, the righteous will flourish in the presence of their God. His judgments of the wicked will move the righteous to worship. How does knowing that God will punish the wicked encourage us to trust His goodness now? 

The teaching of Ps. 14 is repeated in Ps. 53, and appears again in Rom. 3:10–12. This implies that we need to pay careful attention to the doctrine of sin. Apart from a piercing sense of our sinfulness, we will not care much about the gospel of Christ. This psalm reveals that by nature fallen human beings are practical atheists. They are corrupt. Though they may do some good in society, not one of them does true spiritual good. They might be religious, but they do not desire God or seek after Him. They do not know Him in their hearts. As a result, they do not really pray to the Lord, and they persecute God’s people. Despite all their boasting, they feel guilty and afraid, sometimes for no apparent reason, and God will punish them severely. What does this show you about your need for Jesus Christ? What specifically do you need Him to do for you in order to rescue you from this dreadful condition? 

David knew what it was to be betrayed by his kinsmen. Trouble is bad enough when it comes from expected sources, but it always feels worse when it comes from those with whom we have some relationship. How painful it must have been for the Lord Jesus for His fellow Israelites to hand Him over to the Gentiles to be crucified! Although we may be hurt or even betrayed by those close to us, there is one who has promised never to forsake us in adversity. We can wholly rely on Him, and He will not fail us. Since we are safe in God’s keeping, let us not give way to unrestrained anxiety. Rather, let us praise the Lord that He is with us and that soon we shall be both free and triumphant. 

We must understand that this world is no friend to God or the people of God. However the world treats us, the trial will be used for our sanctification if it drives us to the Lord in prayer. In all our troubles, God’s Word provides comfort, strength, peace, and hope. Long indeed may be the time of sorrow, but even if we are tempted to think that God is unmindful of our sufferings, the truth is that He knows all about them and is moved with compassion. Have you witnessed God’s provision in your own life or the life of another? How has this impacted you? 

Since the Lord became incarnate as a real human, the One who has put “my tears into thy bottle” (v. 8) has Himself wept tears (Luke 19:41; John 11:35; Heb. 5:7). Fear, grief, and the opposition of malicious liars were quite familiar to Him. Christ is able to show us sympathy, yet in a way that does not leave us in a self-centered pity party. He will lead us instead in the pathway of this psalm: enduring evil by faith in His Word, resulting in the praise of His glorious grace. Why do we need to know that Jesus Christ can empathize with us? 

We must understand that this world is no friend to God or the people of God. However the world treats us, the trial will be used for our sanctification if it drives us to the Lord in prayer. In all our troubles, God’s Word provides comfort, strength, peace, and hope. Long indeed may be the time of sorrow, but even if we are tempted to think that God is unmindful of our sufferings, the truth is that He knows all about them and is moved with compassion. Have you witnessed God’s provision in your own life or the life of another? How has this impacted you? 

Since the Lord became incarnate as a real human, the One who has put “my tears into thy bottle” (v. 8) has Himself wept tears (Luke 19:41; John 11:35; Heb. 5:7). Fear, grief, and the opposition of malicious liars were quite familiar to Him. Christ is able to show us sympathy, yet in a way that does not leave us in a self-centered pity party. He will lead us instead in the pathway of this psalm: enduring evil by faith in His Word, resulting in the praise of His glorious grace. Why do we need to know that Jesus Christ can empathize with us? 

Calamities tend to come and go. David being delivered from one trouble soon finds himself praying his way out of another. In the middle of trouble, it is always best to draw near to God and find that place of quiet rest near to His heart. This requires us to fix our hearts’ desires and hopes upon His love and His glory. There we shall find the shelter of divine mercy. Recall a difficult time, when your comfort was found in the assurance of God’s love. 

In all of Christ’s troubles, the cry of His heart was, “Be thou exalted, O God” (vv. 5,11; see John 12:27–28). The aim of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation was the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:6–11). Christ taught His disciples to seek the glory of God’s holy name first and foremost in their prayers (Matt. 6:9). How can the Lord Jesus enable us to fix our hearts more firmly upon the glory of the Lord? 

People have become sinful and wretched creatures by the fall in Adam. One of the worst manifestations of this is hatred against truth, so that we are quick to lie. It is tragic when sin reigns in us to the point that we refuse to listen to powerful warnings and sweet arguments. Why do children tell lies? What does this teach us about our fallen human nature? 

Mankind’s propensity to sin and lie moves us to resist the gospel of salvation. The Lord Jesus taught that sinners cannot listen to His Word because they do not belong to God but to the Devil, and he is the father of lies (John 8:43–47). Though people may hear the Word of God from the mouth of Jesus Christ Himself, they are not willing to come to Christ in faith (John 5:38–40). Only the sheep of the Lord will listen to His voice (John 10:26–27), not because they are inherently better than others, but because God draws them to Christ by the inner teaching of the Holy Spirit (John 6:37,44,63,65). How should these truths affect the way we seek salvation for ourselves? For others? 

The world is not neutral to believers but constantly opposes righteousness and sometimes actively conspires to destroy them. Some of the world’s most powerful weapons are evil words. Christians may find themselves in the frightening position of being under attack by a group of wicked and violent people. In such times, this psalm teaches us to cling to God. He is the “strength” of the believer, giving him power to keep hoping and obeying. He is his “defense,” a high cliff where the believer may hide himself and find peace. His “mercy” or faithful love assures the ultimate salvation of His people, and the punishment of their wicked enemies. This confidence gives the people of Jesus Christ the ability to say that even if they are being slaughtered, they are more than overcomers, for nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ (Rom. 8:31–39). How can we build up our confidence in our God? 

God’s people, because of their sins, may incur His fatherly displeasure and be brought to a sad condition. Yet they are never reduced to hopelessness because God is still true to His promise in Christ. However formidable the task and however great the difficulty, we are still by prayer within reach of God. When He hears us, He will confirm and fulfill to us the promises He has made. The Lord is sovereign over all the world, and therefore we may always hope in Him. 

God’s promises should particularly give us confidence to make disciples of all nations, for Christ has received authority over heaven and earth and will be with us (Matt. 28:18–20). His gospel is like a banner of His love over us. Although we are to expect God to work for us, we are not to sit down and do nothing. “Through God we shall do valiantly” (v. 12). How should we be getting up and getting busy doing His will by His grace? 

David’s prayer looked ahead to the day when Jesus Christ would rise from the dead to live forever as the king of Israel (v. 6). Christ sought refuge in God during His many trials, and now the risen Christ is the solid rock and strong tower of His people. God’s loyal love and faithfulness belong to all who are in union with Christ by a living faith. Believers do well to remember that whatever their outward situation or inward condition, they are always able to turn to God in prayer. Although we may feel totally inadequate, God is stronger than we are, and bigger than any problem we may face. Christ’s kingdom cannot fail, and even now His Spirit covers and shelters us with joy and peace. How can knowing that Christ will live forever, and that believers are joined to Him, give comfort and peace to the Christian when he cries out to God in prayer? 

The psalm’s theme of exclusive trust is vital and far-reaching. The value of faith is determined by its object; and faith is worthless unless it rests upon the Lord alone. Trusting in mankind and human resources is foolish, for the greatest and the least of men are all lighter than a feather in the balances of God. Instead, we must trust in the Lord at all times, building our lives upon His power, reliability, love, and justice. How do we see these divine attributes in Jesus Christ? 

Such faith in the Lord alone will express itself. First, it will move a person to pour out his heart to God in prayer. Second, it will cause a person to think lightly of men and their wealth. Third, it will create a heart that is open and eager to listen to God’s Word. Such a person can truly say that his soul hopes in God alone for salvation. Is this true of you? What evidence is there of it in your life? 

David’s desire for the presence of God in the wilderness sets a pattern for responding properly to trials and troubles. First, no trial should distract us from contemplating and desiring God’s presence (vv. 1–5). God’s glory is not limited to any location or circumstance. Second, no trial should keep us from remembering God’s faithfulness that we have experienced so many times in the past (vv. 6–8). Third, no trial should cause us to forget God’s justice as sooner or later those who would seek our hurt will receive from God what they deserve (vv. 9–11). So if we seek the Lord with all our heart, regardless of where we are or what we are going through, we will find Him. True religion is found where we are satisfied in God and pour forth God’s praise. How can a believer cultivate such God-centered joy every day? 

“The king shall rejoice in God” (v. 11). No man or angel has more joy than the Lord Jesus Christ, exalted to God’s right hand and given the fullness of the Holy Spirit (16:11; 45:7; 110:1). Amazingly, Christ desires to share His joy with His followers, so that their joy will be full (Matt. 25:21; John 15:11). How can we taste His joy even in this world as we wait for His kingdom to come? 

Let us not be naïve; the wicked hate the righteous and implement careful plans to destroy them. On the other hand, let the righteous not live in fear. God is their ally, ready to enter the field for their cause (9:4; 35:23; 140:12). The wicked may aim their bows at people of integrity, but God has a bow too. They have lies, slander, and false accusations, but the godly have a Witness to the truth. In fact, the Lord uses the very schemes of the wicked to destroy them. If you doubt this, consider Satan’s attack upon Christ, for through His crucifixion Jesus conquered the Devil (Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14). Christ’s victory belongs to all who believe in Him, and all that sinners say and do against them will ultimately harm only the sinner. How should this change the way we view the hard words and violence that the church must endure from the world? 

The mighty power of the Creator and the goodness of God’s providence in watering the earth and producing crops teach us that the best gift of all is closeness to God. The Giver is greater than the gifts. Therefore, the greatest benefits in the universe belong to the person whom God chooses, draws near to Him by the Holy Spirit, forgives of his sins by the blood of Christ, and satisfies with His goodness and holiness. There is nothing sweeter than the sovereign grace of Jesus Christ. Sadly, nothing is more common than for people to enjoy the gifts of creation and providence but have no desire for Christ. In our gratitude, we must look beyond earthly blessings to the deepest blessing, seeking the presence of God through Christ. We must seek Him in quiet reverence and believing prayer. Why is nearness to God the greatest blessing? 

God’s works of power for Israel at the Red Sea and the Jordan River called all nations to praise Him. Even the wicked were compelled to give Him some honor. Much more do God’s works of redemption in Jesus Christ call all nations to worship Him. The death of God’s Son for sinners declares God’s love, wisdom, mercy, justice, and wrath against sin like no other event in history. His resurrection and exaltation to supreme glory reveal God’s unspeakable power and faithfulness. Now, through the gospel, Christ calls the world to come and see (John 1:39), for He has made known God’s name (John 17:6). When Christ returns, even His enemies will be forced to bow before Him and confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:10–11). Have you become a true worshiper of God through faith in Christ? If so, how are you working with the church to declare the gospel to everyone on earth? 

God despises hypocrisy. He is very tender and forgiving toward those who fear Him and hope in His love, despite their many faults. However, hypocrites say prayers with their lips while in their hearts they look to sin as their great delight. How can we be careful to pray with our thoughts and desires fixed upon God, acknowledging His faithful love but despising our own sin? 

Through this psalm, godly Jews prayed for centuries that God would so bless His covenant people that through them the Gentile nations of the world would come gladly under the Lord’s reign and give Him the praise He deserves. It may be that they did so as they celebrated God’s provision of another harvest at the Feast of Pentecost. With the coming of the Messiah of Israel, the psalm took on an even richer significance. Jesus the great High Priest now blesses believers, for He has fulfilled the law and brought the covenant blessing by His death on the cross. Christ the risen King rules His people by the Spirit so that they rejoice in obeying Him. At Pentecost He poured out that Spirit, so that a harvest of souls began to be gathered from all nations. The church now prays and labors so that all people will join in the worship of God, as Christ the Prophet preaches God’s salvation through the gospel that the church proclaims. Christians must pray toward this today, longing for the full harvest to come in from every nation. As a largely Gentile church, we can rejoice in the blessing promised to Abraham and pray for missions and specifically pray also for the salvation of the Jewish people, through whom this blessing came.  

This psalm speaks of the victory of Christ. The apostle Paul quoted it with reference to the ascension of Christ to bless His people (v. 18; Eph. 4:8–10). Christ is exalted and, as Captain of the Lord’s hosts, He leads His people to victory over all His enemies, which is a cause for great rejoicing in His church (Josh. 5:13–15; Isa. 55:4; Rev. 6:2). Christ has ascended to the heavenly Zion, and He has sent down His many blessings in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33; 5:30–32). Give thanks to the Lord for today’s daily load of blessings (v. 19)! 

Our greatest need today is for the Lord, in answer to our prayers, to arise and display His power, reviving His church, promoting His cause, and overcoming His many enemies. Lest we lose heart, we should remember in discouraging days that Christ rules on high over heaven and earth. As the God of salvation, He is able to do wonderful things for His church. There can be no room for pessimism. The victory of the Lord belongs to His people. How can we take hold of the strength that Christ has for us? 

This is one of the psalms most frequently quoted in the New Testament. Though it resonates in some ways with the experience of believers, it especially embodies Christ’s love for the glory of God and His unjust sufferings at the hands of His own countrymen who were hardened in their unbelief. We often suffer as a consequence of our own sins, but Christ suffered because He took the guilt of other people’s sins, making payment for a debt He did not personally incur (2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24). As a result, the deep waters of divine wrath flooded his life, overwhelming Him (Matt. 26:38; Luke 12:50) until the Lord answered His humble cry (Heb. 5:7). Reading this psalm should profoundly humble believers as they consider what their sin did to the Son of God. How can it also bring deep comfort to those who experience unjust persecution? 

Unbelievers should see in these words a warning against the incredible evil of sin, that it would move men to do such things to the innocent and loving Lord. They should fear lest they also be hardened in unbelief and quickly run to Christ to save them from the wrath of God. What promises does this psalm give to sinners who seek the Lord?

David prayed this prayer more than once because his troubles kept returning. In this world, surrounded by dangers, we are totally dependent upon God and we need to constantly turn to Him in prayer. We cannot live safely and happily without prayer. Therefore prayer must not be neglected. Our prayers do not always need to be long; sometimes the most effective prayer is a desperate cry for help. Our God can come to us in any and every time of crisis. God does not tire of hearing our prayers for His help even if we repeat the petitions, just as long as we seek Him sincerely and not out of thoughtless routine. Christ understands what it means to be poor and needy (v. 5), for He embraced poverty that He might make us rich (2 Cor. 8:9). Now, out of His riches, He is glad to bless those who call upon the name of the Lord (Rom. 10:12–13). How does that encourage you to pray more often and with more hope?

When in serious trouble, we feel the need of God as never before, and in such a time, it is no small comfort to realize that He is there for us, ready to hear our prayers. This truth delivers us from reaching the point of desperation and hopelessness. What is most encouraging is the thought of God’s continuing and unchanging faithfulness throughout every season of life. It is a fact of life that we transition from youth to old age, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). He has been raised from the dead, ever lives to intercede for His people, and is the forerunner who has gone ahead of them into eternal glory (Heb. 6:19–20; 7:25). Spend time praising Him for His presence in your life.  

No royal descendant of David, other than the ultimate Son of David, ever ruled over an eternal kingdom without borders with universal subjects. This psalm celebrates the reign of Jesus Christ. We should always remember that Christ is on His throne. Though the church may be attacked or in a state of decline, He is well able to restore it and cause it to thrive and prosper once again. In these sad days, too many think in terms only of survival, whereas they should be thinking of reformation, recovery, and revival. Believers do well to have a vision for the success and advance of Christ’s kingdom. The gospel calls for optimism, for it announces, “Jesus reigns!” How does this encourage you as one of God’s ambassadors (see 2 Cor. 5:20)? 

Gospel optimism leads to kingdom prayer. This psalm should move us to pray—and to pray with great hope and expectation—that the kingdom of Christ will prevail against the powers of evil and that all His elect will be brought in and made holy. As we are instructed, let’s pray for Christ’s kingdom to come and for His will to be done (v. 15; Matt. 6:9–13).  

The tension between faith and experience is common in Christian life. We believe that the faithful man is blessed (1:1–3), but sometimes it appears that the opposite is true. Asaph, like many before and after him, wrestled with the problem and found the answer in the sanctuary. There the priestly work of sacrifice reminded him of the holiness of God, the doom to fall on sinners, and the grace of God to believers. There he was reminded that the life of the wicked will end in grief and their prosperity will vanish like the dream of a waking man. What will follow is divine retribution. God will show them neither love nor pity. It will be so different for believers. They enjoy the life of grace, knowing God’s presence, support, and guidance, and one day they will be introduced to the life of glory to enjoy God forever. How can we use an eternal perspective to overcome doubts and questions about the goodness of God?   

At times God gives His people over to their enemies, and the church is shattered. It seems that God has rejected them. In such times of desolation, we may still cry out to the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:14–15). We can gather courage and faith by remembering God’s past acts of salvation for His people, just as Israel turned back to their salvation from Egypt when Babylon destroyed them (vv. 12– 15). The greatest of these acts are the death and resurrection of Christ. We can find refuge in His infinite power as the Creator (vv. 16–17). We can appeal to God’s love for His glory (vv. 18,21), His tenderness for His people (“thy turtledove,” v. 19), and His commitment to keep His covenant (v. 20). How can leaning on such supports, enable Christians to pray with faith? How can these truths give us the strength to wait with enduring hope for the Lord to intervene on our behalf?    

This psalm celebrates the hope that at His own appointed time God, who now sustains the earth and all that is in it, will come in all the fury of His righteous wrath to judge the wicked. In that day there will be no escape, and no defense will be possible. Sinners will drink the cup of wrath down to its last drop. The Judge will take away their strength (“horns”) so that they can do no more harm, and He will lift up the righteous with power and glory. While this is good news for the godly, it is a dire warning to the wicked. It admonishes them to be arrogant no longer. What will it be like for unrepentant sinners on judgment day? 

One amazing link between this psalm and the New Testament is Christ’s prayers in the garden of Gethsemane, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. . . . O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done” (Matt. 26:39,42). The Lord Jesus took the cup of God’s wrath against sinners and, in submission to His Father’s will, drained it dry so that His people would never have to taste it. How does this affect your view of God’s love for sinners? How does it affect your view of Christ’s cross?     

The church is at times under serious attack, but in vain do Satan and evil men seek her destruction. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. God Himself is her indwelling Sovereign and Protector. In due time, He will take up her cause and arise for her help. Whatever evil may be allowed to overtake the church, it shall all be overruled to God’s greater praise, and any further evil will be harnessed and rendered ineffective. Thus, in His keeping, the Lord’s people are both safe and well. How does this enable believers to remain humble, quiet, and meek in affliction?   

When stress robs us of sleep, our difficulty is doubled by physical and emotional fatigue. Yet in that situation, we may devote ourselves to prayer and meditation. It is striking that precisely when the disciples were dozing off from grief and exhaustion, Christ was fervently seeking God in prayer though His soul was burdened far worse than theirs (Mark 14:33–40). Let us follow the Master in this too: turn sleepless nights into opportunities for earnest prayer, meditation on Scripture, and intercession. What tends to rob you of sleep? How can you make spiritual use of this opportunity? 

When it seems like God has forgotten us, it is time for us to remember His works. Biblical history is full of marvelous displays of God’s power and faithfulness to redeem His people. If you are a believer, your personal history is also a rich resource for meditating on the kindnesses of God’s providence and saving grace. How can a Christian make use of these things to find strength and comfort?   

Biblical history teaches reliable facts about real people and events, and yet its purpose is to communicate spiritual truth and to call for a spiritual response. It is good to teach the Bible’s stories to children and adults, but if we do not draw doctrine out of the story and apply it to the heart then we have not been faithful to God. He calls each generation to train future generations to hope in God and obey His commands. What implications does this have for family worship and church classes?

The history of Israel teaches us that God is faithful to His covenant and works powerfully to save His people. However, humanity is not faithful to God, but rebellious at heart, even when this rebellion is cloaked in the religious flattery of hypocrisy. As a result, God’s wrath burns against them. God’s loving solution to man’s problem centers upon the household of David, giving Israel a king to shepherd them in kindness and righteousness. Yet even David’s line failed, resulting in the exile among the Gentiles. This psalm thus implies that Israel’s hope lies in a coming Son of David who will keep covenant with the Lord so as to gain His blessing on the people. This King must also have the ability by God’s grace to change the hearts of sinners so that they repent of sin and trust in God’s promises. The salvation that this King brings will be like Israel’s exodus from Egypt, only it must be a spiritual exodus. How are the expectations of this psalm fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His Spirit?   

Great damage, disgrace, and distress can come upon God’s church (Rev. 13:15; 17:6). Sometimes God gives the wicked victory over the professing church because of its sins. In such times of disaster, we must give ourselves to prayer for His compassion and forgiveness. Even when the Lord is disciplining His people, we may appeal to His justice to punish the wicked oppressors if they will not repent (Rev. 6:9–11). Christ is ever the shepherd of His sheep (v. 13), and He will never abandon them. When God rescues His church from troubles, or if we do not live in a time of severe persecution, we should give public thanks and praise to the Lord for the peace we enjoy. How do the church’s present circumstances call it to prayer and praise?   

When the tears of God’s people flow, they can remind themselves that Christ is the divine shepherd of His chosen flock, present with them as an enthroned king by the Holy Spirit. He is the Lord God of hosts, the all-powerful Commander of all creation. His face shines upon believers, indeed shines within their hearts, through the gospel (2 Cor. 4:6). They are God’s vineyard, and Christ Himself is the vine whose sap gives life to all branches that abide in Him (John 15:1–8), for He has joined Himself to us by taking our human nature as the Son of Man so that we might be joined to Him by His Spirit. Therefore, when the church suffers defeat, believers should call upon Christ to revive them so that they may bear the fruit God desires. How often are you praying for the revival of Christ’s church? How can this psalm help you to pray? 

Through the Psalms the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to worship God according to His will. God’s people must worship Him by singing with energy and joy (v. 1), exercising faith in His power and faithful love (v. 1), offering God psalms with music (vv. 2–3), following the instructions of Scripture (v. 4), remembering God’s great works of salvation in Jesus Christ (vv. 5–7), listening to the preaching of the Word (v. 8), renouncing the gods of this world (v. 9), drawing near to God with expectant desire for Him to satisfy us with Christ (vv. 10,16), and repenting of our sins (vv. 11–15). How are you following each of these directions in your public worship? How do you need to change?  

God has given men great authority in the world to rule as His representatives (Gen. 1:26–28), but with this authority comes accountability. People, especially people with power, tend to confuse themselves with God. Instead of defending the weak against the wicked, they show favoritism and overthrow the fundamental principles undergirding society. The injustice of human courts reached its pinnacle of perversity when the Jewish council condemned Christ to death, and the Gentile ruler authorized Christ’s crucifixion even after finding Him innocent. Nevertheless, when justice miscarries, we may look to the Judge of all the earth to do right. The Lord reminds rulers that they are mere men, fallen and mortal in Adam. If the rulers of this earth do not follow God’s principles of justice, then God will judge the judges, for He is the Owner of all nations. How does this psalm teach the officials of civil government to walk in the fear of God? 

God’s enemies often attack His people, and they should not be surprised if they find themselves surrounded by the wicked seeking their ruin. The comfort of the church is that God will arise to help in answer to prayer. Christians can rest assured of the final victory, because God has shown His power and will to save repeatedly through history. The wicked, however, should fear, because the Lord will fill His enemies with shame and torment them with fire. While God’s judgments may seem harsh, in reality they are good and necessary, for they demonstrate to the world that the Lord alone is the sovereign King over all the earth. Judgment serves God’s glory. How does this encourage believers to pray for justice? How does it admonish unbelievers to repent?  

In the new covenant, the house of God is not a building, but the congregation of people united in Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:22; 1 Peter 2:5). There is great blessing in going up to worship in the house of God. God’s Word calls us to that holy gathering (99:9) and the Holy Spirit draws us (Ezra 1:5). There believers see God’s beauty and are satisfied in Him (63:1–2). Love for God’s church and its worship of God is a sign of God’s saving blessing upon a person. How much do we value the meetings of the church? How frequently do we attend them? What do we seek when we go—God or something from man? 

No one is more zealous for God’s house than Jesus Christ (John 2:17). Even as a twelveyear- old child He loved to be there (Luke 2:46–49). As an adult He was often in the temple teaching (Luke 22:53; John 10:23). He especially delights in being with His believing people, who are God’s spiritual house. To them He has promised His special presence (Matt. 18:20; 28:20). The risen Lord is our great temple, and He shines like the sun with the beauty of the triune God (John 2:19–22; Rev. 21:22–23). Better is one day with the church in the presence of Christ than a thousand elsewhere. What often hinders our own attitudes from being Christlike in this matter?  

Thinking about the past ways God has dealt with us is a good way to increase our desire for God to continue to show His grace. As you meditate through this psalm, follow the logic. First, we remember the past, thinking about God’s mercies, restoration, forgiveness, and peace (vv. 1–3). Then, we pray for the future that God might revive us and show His mercy or covenant loyalty (vv. 4–6). Finally, we express faith for the present by resolving to listen to the Lord’s Word, hoping in His salvation and glory, and admonishing ourselves and each other to not return to the old ways of folly but to follow in the way of peace provided (vv. 7–13). How would you apply this pattern specifically to your own situation or that of your church? 

Biblical prayer is driven by meditation upon God. God’s covenant in Christ attracts us to approach Him with humility and trust (vv. 1–2). God’s goodness and forgiveness draw us to seek Him in prayer regularly despite our sinfulness (v. 5). God’s greatness turns us from all other gods to seek Him alone in our need (vv. 8–10). God’s love, compassion, grace, and faithfulness give us hope to call upon Him even when proud sinners work to destroy us (vv. 13–15). God’s mercies to us in the past encourage us to boldly ask Him to give us signs of His goodness in the present (v. 17). What concerns do you have to take to the Lord in prayer? Which of God’s attributes seen in God’s covenant through Christ allow us to pray with confidence? 

In the new covenant, the church is God’s spiritual Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and His living temple among people (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22; 1 Peter 2:5–6; Rev. 3:12; 21:2,10). God’s promises to Israel are being fulfilled in the church through faith in His Son, whose person and work is the foundation of God’s dwelling with sinners (1 Cor. 3:11; 1 Peter 2:6–7). The church of Jesus Christ is more beautiful, precious, and holy than any other institution on earth (Isa. 60–62). Her citizens are of a heavenly birth by the Holy Spirit (John 3:1–8; Gal. 4:29–31). The Lord knows each of them by name (2 Tim. 2:19). God has promised His special presence to her gatherings in a way that surpasses even private communion with God (Matt. 18:20; 28:20; Eph. 2:18–22). How precious is the meeting of the church! How does this psalm gives us reasons to love the church and her public worship? What changes do you need to make in your attitudes and habits to reflect the importance of the church in God’s sight?  

The Lord may bring a crushing sense of His wrath upon the soul of a sinner, causing the conscience to pierce and the affections to burn with fear. If so, then the right response is to cry out to God for salvation from sin (v. 1; Acts 2:37; 16:29–30). Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, trusting in the risen Christ, will be saved (Rom. 10:9–13). Have you ever sensed the wrath of God against your sin? Are you trusting Christ alone to save you? 

God may withdraw a comforting sense of His fatherly love from the believer, and the Christian enters into a time of darkness and horror from the guilt of his sins. Though objectively the believer remains justified in God’s sight, subjectively he may lose his sense of assurance and peace of conscience, feeling that God is against him (38:1–8). Such seasons may be compounded by physical illness and isolation from friends. They call the Christian to patient endurance and continual prayer (88:1–2,9,13). 

Though the spiritual desolation of Christians may disturb us, we should be most moved by the sufferings of the sinless Son of God, in whom this psalm is fulfilled. He experienced divine abandonment in the highest degree, though faithful to God from His youngest days (22:1,9–10). He suffered for the sins of others and was crushed for their guilt (Isa. 53:5–6,10). He propitiated God’s wrath for sinners by bearing the curse Himself (Rom. 3:25; Gal. 3:13). As a result, though we may feel abandoned by God, the Lord will never truly forsake the believer. How can meditating on Christ’s time of horrible darkness help believers to endure times of darkness themselves?  

This psalm is a commentary on the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7), which marked a significant advance in God’s revelation of redemption. The Lord told David that through his royal offspring, God’s presence and kingdom would be established on earth forever. David’s sons, beginning with Solomon, in one way or another failed. Their sins seemed to put the promise in jeopardy, bringing down God’s judgment and finally destroying the kingdom of Judah. Believers in that time lived in the tension of the promise of a kingdom and the reality of desolation and foreign domination. How does this psalm teach us to pray when life’s reality seems to contradict God’s promises? How does it encourage both faith and honesty? 

Though God had threatened discipline upon the line of David if they broke His law, he also guaranteed that His faithful love and reliable covenant could not be nullified. This called Israel to hope that God would raise up a righteous Son of David whose obedience to God’s laws would bring the everlasting kingdom. The failure of Israel’s kings reflected the fall of man in the first Adam from his blessed and royal position on earth. Therefore God’s promise held out the hope of the last Adam, God’s Son. All the hope of believers rests upon Him. Already His kingdom has begun in Christ’s coming, death, resurrection, ascension, and pouring out of the Holy Spirit to begin worldwide missions. Yet the church still waits for His coming to reign in glory and lives under the cross of persecution. How can this psalm help us to seek His kingdom in prayer as we live in the “already but not yet”? 

Death is not a natural event to which we should resign ourselves, but a sign of God’s anger upon mankind for our sins. Though we would rather not think about it, we gain much wisdom by meditating on the brevity of life, the certainty of death, and the eternity of the God who rules both life and death. The reality of death strips away our pretenses of pride and independence and reminds us of God’s absolute power over us and wrath against sin. How should these truths humble us? 

The reality of death also moves us to find a dwelling place in God that will outlast this life. This world loses its charm when we see it as a temporary home, but God is eternal. This is the great wisdom given to us by the gospel, to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life (2 Tim. 3:15). Pray that God would have mercy upon you for your sins, give you eternal joy and satisfaction in His love, and work in you so that your works will have lasting value.  

God’s people have long cherished this psalm as a promise of God’s protective presence. It should not be interpreted to say that no harm can come to believers (v. 10), but rather that God will work all things to the good of those who love Him, making them more than conquerors over Satan and this evil world (Rom. 8:28,37). God’s ordinary way is to answer the prayers of Christians by sustaining them in the trouble, then rescuing them from the trouble, and ultimately giving them glory and eternal life (vv. 15–16). What do the images of the first part of the psalm (vv. 1–4) teach us about trusting the Lord? 

Satan abused this Scripture in his temptation of Christ in an attempt to get Jesus to test God in an extraordinary way by leaping from the temple so that angels could carry Him down (vv. 11–12; Luke 4:9–11). The Devil omitted the words, “in all thy ways,” perhaps because they imply trusting in God’s ordinary providence over all our life, not forcing His hand to some extraordinary show. Christ refused to test the promised angelic protection, and then angels came and cared for the ordinary needs of His weary humanity (Matt. 4:11). What lessons can we learn from Christ about how we should and should not use God’s promises of protection?  

As the title of this psalm implies, it teaches us about how to keep the Lord’s Day holy. The Sabbath is a day devoted to praising God for who He is and what He has done in the public worship of God’s house. We should sing His praise morning and evening—as much as possible. Life can be brutal as we are surrounded by the wicked, but the Lord’s Day offers a unique opportunity to renew our perspective by faith in the promises of God’s sovereignty, judgment of the wicked, and blessing on believers. Thus the preaching of the Word is central to the day. By worshiping in God’s presence, God’s people flourish and grow like trees. Even into their old age they are renewed in strength and declare God’s righteousness for others to hear. Truly, the Sabbath is a blessed day! How does this psalm call you to change the way you spend your Sabbaths?  

Unwelcome, unexpected, and unexplained things happen in our experience. There is hardly a more comforting truth for God’s people than that God is the absolute Sovereign ruling His kingdom unfailingly for purposes of His glory and His people’s good. The Lord God only is King, ruling in power, justice, and wisdom over the entire world (Isa. 46:10–11; Eph. 1:11). The triune God reigns through the Mediator, Jesus Christ (2:6; 110:1–2; Matt. 28:18). As absolute monarch, God guides everything by His Son to His predetermined goal (Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36; Heb. 1:3). What does this teach us about how to respond to the threats of powerful people (vv. 3–4)? How should this affect the way we approach His Word and worship (v. 5)?  

This is a psalm for the persecuted church. Whenever believers suffer unjustly, they can appeal to the God who occupies the seat of supreme power and jurisdiction. He is able to intervene, righting apparent wrongs, and bringing relief to His troubled people. It is solemn to reflect on the truth that God takes account of everything that happens in this world. Even now, all things are clearly seen by the eyes of the Judge before whom all will stand. This gave Christ the strength to patiently endure injustice and malicious persecution, and Christians are called to walk in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:19–23). What injustices trouble you now? How can this truth help you? 

As God’s people wait for the Lord to rescue them from their oppressors, they can find comfort in knowing that God has a purpose in this for them. First, He is blessing them through the teaching of His chastening and discipline (v. 12). Even persecutors are God’s instruments to make believers holy. Second, He is bringing them into deeper communion with Himself. The sorrows of persecution drive us to drink more deeply of the secret comforts of God’s Spirit (vv. 18–19). Do you know the soul-delighting comforts of Christ? If not, why not? If so, how can you grow in them?   

Worship engages people to sing God’s praise as the trustworthy Savior, supreme King, and only Creator of the entire universe. We hear God’s voice in the reading and preaching of the Word. What do vv. 1–7 teach us about our response to God’s Word in true worship? 

In the worship service, there really are only two options: either we gladly glorify God through Jesus Christ, or we harden our hearts and put Him to the test. If we refuse to believe God’s Word, then even seeing miracles would not help us—Israel saw many miracles, but most of the congregation in the wilderness rebelled against God. The tragic reality is that many come to worship services only to fall under God’s wrath. The only way to enter the blessing of God’s rest is by faith in Christ. Therefore, do not deceive yourself, thinking you can remain neutral. Which of the two options do you find your heart taking? Flee from the wrath of God, place yourself under the care of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, and engage your heart to worship God.    

This psalm teaches that praise and worship is God-centered, with every component of praise, whether in song, speech, conduct, or appearance, directed to His glory. Worship responds to His holiness, that is, the radiant majesty, glory, and beauty that display Him as the only true God. Therefore, worship revolves around the preaching of God’s glory from the Word. How can we keep our worship centered on God? 

Worship must be missional, that is, calling all people regardless of ethnic or cultural background to join in knowing and adoring this one God. Biblical evangelism is a call to worship God. Authentic worship fuels a longing for all nations to glorify this great God and Savior. How can we reach out to the nations through our worship? 

Worship must be in the beauty of holiness, that is, by people clothed in Christ’s perfect obedience and sanctified by the influences of the Holy Spirit to obey God’s commands. In our public worship services, our resolve must be to promote His glory and to please Him, not to entertain ourselves and others. Cheapening the holiness of God and His worship does not assist evangelism, but robs it of its core attraction: God Himself. How can we strive toward a worship that is beautiful in holiness?    

God is enthroned. His people should rejoice, for the world is not governed by random chance or fate. There is Someone in sovereign control; right and righteousness will prevail. Life does have purpose. Wicked men cannot overcome the Lord, evil will be judged at last, and the future lies entirely with God. If you are in the midst of adversities, remember that all things are being directed from on high, by Someone too wise to err and too good to cause needless grief. Pray for others you know who may be facing struggles at this time as well. 

God reigns in His Son, who is the Lord (2:6–8; 110:1–3). This psalm’s graphic imagery will ultimately find fulfillment in the return of Jesus Christ in the skies to judge the world, disrupting this creation to bring in a new creation and bringing believers into everlasting joy. How could this psalm motivate Christians to turn from sin with wholehearted hatred and love the Lord with all their hearts? Why should it move unbelievers to turn from their idols to serve the Lord alone?   

Consider the marvelous things done by God. In creation, He made, by a mere word and out of nothing, the substance of the entire universe (Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:3). In providence, He preserves, governs, and directs everything according to His will (Neh. 9:6; Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11). In redemption, His greatest work, He delivers at great cost to Himself those imprisoned in sin and misery (Ex. 6:6–7; Deut. 7:7–8). How do each of these great works give us reasons to praise the Lord? 

God’s great works of salvation are not meant to be celebrated by a few, but to be broadcast among all nations, so that all creation will be filled with His praise. What reasons does this psalm give us for evangelism and missions?  

When approaching God in worship, men should tremble in awe of His infinite majesty and holiness. There is no place for casual familiarity, much less flippancy, for God is above us in every way. He is God and not mere man. Although He is so infinitely different from the creature, He nonetheless is approachable, to which Moses, Aaron, and Samuel bear witness. So let us rely on His forgiveness and worship with fear and also joy. Why is it no contradiction to worship God with fear and joy? 

God gave people limited access to Him through the pillar of cloud, the priests, and the temple on “his holy hill” in Zion, yet these were but types of how the King would dwell with His people in Jesus Christ. How does God’s holiness shine in His Son?  

Worship is a duty required of all mankind. God’s works of creation all around us summon us to it (Rom. 1:19–21). God’s gospel message calls the nations to glorify Him (Rev. 14:6–7). Nor is it enough for people to go through the outward acts of worship, but we must serve Him with joy and energetic praise (vv. 1–2), springing from the knowledge of who He is (v. 3), and expressed in the public gathering of His church (v. 4). Why is joyless worship an insult to God? Why is ignorance a barrier to worship? Why must we worship God in the public assembly of the church instead of merely praising Him at home or on a private walk? 

The worship of God is fueled by the knowledge of Him as the covenant Lord of His people (v. 3), the God who is eternally and faithfully good in His covenant love and loyalty (v. 5). How does the person and work of Jesus Christ reveal these things about God? How does the gospel of Christ fuel the kind of worship this psalm commands?