“In You, O Lord, I put my trust. Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness and cause me to escape. Incline Your ear to me and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually. You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.” Psalm 71:1-4
David prays that he might never be made ashamed of his dependence on God. Access to God’s throne of grace in time of need is a gift that Jesus Christ purchased for us with His blood.
David prayed that God would rescue him based on God’s righteousness and not his own. In Isaiah 64:6, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” In Philippians 3:9, Paul wrote of being found in Christ, “not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” All God’s saints are saints based on God’s forgiveness and His crediting the righteousness of His Son Jesus Messiah to their account.
Whatever others did, David chose to trust in God his Savior. God alone was his strong refuge. God was his impenetrable fortress. God delivered David from cruel criminals.
“For You are my hope, O Lord God. You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth. You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You.” Psalm 71:5-6
Being brought forth from the womb safely was as much a miracle then as it is now. The pagans around Israel, and later the Israelites as well, offered their sons and daughters in fiery sacrifices to idols made of wood and stone. Nowadays, people all over the world are torturing and executing their preborn children via various kinds of abortion methods.
According to 1 Samuel 17:12-14, David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse. Imagine the loss to humanity if his parents had aborted his birth!
In the 1700’s, God mightily used John and Charles Wesley to revive the faith in Christ all over the world. John Wesley was the 15th child of Susanna Wesley. Charles Wesley was her 18th child. Together with her husband Samuel, Susanna had a total of 19 children.
David had been upheld by God from his birth. God kept him in the faith during his teen years. In 1 Samuel 17:34–36, youthful David told King Saul that he had killed both a lion and a bear while protecting his father’s sheep.
David did not take his life for granted. He used it to continuously praise the Lord!
“I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge.” Psalm 71:7
Everyone seemed to be waiting to see the moment that David would abandon God. How long could he keep up his zealous pursuit of God. Surely, they thought, he was just going through a phase and he would get over it. Eventually, he would become like them. But no, David trusted in God to keep the fire in his soul burning.
In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” In 1 Peter 1:5, Peter wrote, “You are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
“Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.” Psalm 71:8
Proverbs 23:7 states: “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” When we think about God’s love for us as recorded in the Bible, it fills our minds with overflowing joy so that we want to praise Him and bring Him glory. I am at my best with witnessing for Christ when I am redeeming my free time by playing worship music and singing His praises. Jesus is worthy of all the glory!
“Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not forsake me when my strength fails.” Psalm 71:9
“To be cast off and forsaken of God is a thing to be dreaded at any time, especially in the time of old age and when our strength fails us; for it is God that is the strength of our heart.” [1]
There are so many predators in the world. They like to prey on weak and vulnerable people. They use phone, text and internet messages to try to scam the elderly out of their retirement money. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus advised us to “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” In other words, we need shrewdness like a serpent and gentleness like a dove. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, but not to support their criminal activities.
“For my enemies speak against me. Those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, saying, ‘God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.’ O God do not be far from me. O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed who are adversaries of my life. Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt.” Psalm 71:10-13
David admitted his need for God to defend him against the lies of false witnesses. He needed God to help him overcome their schemes to defraud him. He asked God to stand up for him so they would see that he was not without help. Instead of being confused, defrauded and hurt by them, David asked God to flip the script. Let them reap what they have sown! Give them a taste of their own bitter medicine so that they will not cheat people anymore.
“But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord God. I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” Psalm 71:14-16
David’s joy and song of praise spring forth from his faith and hope in God. Instead of depending on his own strength and righteousness, he depended on the Lord’s. The oil of God’s anointing never stopped flowing for David. The Spirit of God helped David to overcome the odds against him. Thus, he gave to God alone all the glory.
“O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.” Psalm 71:17
It is a blessing from God to have a revelation of who He is and what He can do. He gives us the air we breathe. He keeps our heart beating. He gave His Son to die for our sins on the cross. He does so much for us daily. We do well to regard what He says to us in the Bible.
“Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” Psalm 71:18
Rather than just survive during his old age, David wanted to thrive. He wanted to impact his whole world for God, as well as to be a witness to the generations that are still to come.
I am old, but the Lord continues to use my life to touch many people. The Holy Spirit leads me to daily use maps to visualize all nations and pray for them with uplifted hands before the Lord. The Lord has blessed 21st Century Jeremiah blogsite with viewers from 165 countries. Praise the Lord! I am old now, but the Lord is touching more people now through me than at any time in my past. Glory to God!
“Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things. O God, who is like You?” Psalm 71:19
There is none like the Lord! He is above “all powers! Above all kings! Above all nature and all created things! Above all wisdom and all the ways of man!” He was “here before the world began. Crucified. Laid behind a stone. He lived to die. Rejected and alone. He took the fall and thought of me above all.” [2]
“You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Also with the lute I will praise You—and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long, for they are confounded, for they are brought to shame who seek my hurt.” Psalm 71:20-24
David believed that God would rescue him from his troubles. God would increase his greatness and comfort! So, David decided to express his joy with a lute. A lute is like a modern day guitar but smaller. There were no musical recordings in his day, thus, David learned to play an instrument so his voice was not without music accompaniment. Thus, as David strummed the strings of the lute, his lips rejoiced. His soul sang. His tongue uttered the praises of God’s redeeming grace. He praised God for His faithfulness. As David worshiped the Lord, the Lord dealt with those who sought to confuse and hurt him.
Many years later, a descendant of David was led in a similar way to him. In 2 Chronicles 20, the nation of Judah was surrounded by a coalition of enemies. At first, King Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground in prayer, but then, the Levites stood up and began to praise the Lord with loud and high voices. After that, King Jehoshaphat was led to send the singers of praise out in front of his troops. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 says, “As they went out before the army, they were saying, ‘Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.”
In 1983, Michael and Stormie Omartian wrote a song entitled, “Praise His Name and See It Happen.” I like the lyrics... “Praise His name and see it happen. Let the power of God become alive in your life. Praise Jesus! Praise Jesus! Sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Praise His name and see it happen! Let your voice resound, on this holy battleground! The battle’s His! You’ve done your part if He be glorified in your heart.” In other words, trust God to do what is right, and praise Him for His help.
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Above All lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, song by Lenny LeBlanc
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Saturday, May 16, 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
God’s Delays Are Not His Denials – Psalm 70
“This psalm is titled to the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.”
This psalm of David, as others was set to music, and sent by him to the Chief Musician. He asked God to remember and deliver him from all the challenges that were being waged against him.
“Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!” Psalm 70:1
David asked God to respond quickly to his prayer. He believed God was listening to Him, but felt that a slow response to his request would be more than he could endure. In his first, “make haste” he uses the Hebrew word “Elohim” (God) while in his second, “make haste” he uses the word “Yahweh” (Lord). In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul wrote, “Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” I see David addressing the Father and the Son in this prayer (knowingly or unknowingly) by God’s Spirit. David wrote of God’s Son in Psalms 2:12 and 89:27.
The Lord is pleased to deliver us, and to do it quickly. Have we asked Him to intervene?
The Lord says in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
In Job 21:15, Job described the wicked as those who say, “Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? What profit do we have if we pray to Him?” We must reject those thoughts.
Our Lord Jesus was beaten, flogged, crucified and buried, and then, three days later He was up and walking among His disciples and telling them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our Savior. Saving is what He does!
In 1 Corinthians 15:57, Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 2:14, he wrote, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.”
“Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life. Let them be turned back and confused who desire my hurt. Let them be turned back because of their shame, who say, ‘Aha, aha!’” Psalm 70:1-3
David gave those who desired his hurt over to God. He asked God to turn them back. He asked
God to shame and confuse them. James Boice wrote, “The kindest thing we can pray for people who do wrong is that their plans will fail, for it may be that in their frustration they will see the folly and true end of evil and be reached for God.” [1]
David’s enemies exclaimed, “Aha! Aha!” “It was bad enough that David’s enemies wanted him dead. They also poured ridicule on him.” [2]
“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!’” Psalm 70:4
“David thought that to praise God was to magnify Him – that is, to make Him larger in one’s perception. Magnification does not actually make an object bigger, and we can’t make God bigger. Still, to magnify something or someone is to perceive it as bigger, and we must do that regarding God.” [3]
“But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer. O Lord, do not delay.” Psalm 70:5
David was poor and needy because he lacked the means to protect himself from the relentless attacks of those who hated him. He needed God to intervene before his enemies overwhelmed him. Thus, he asked God to hurry up.
We have various sayings about God’s timing. For example, “God’s timing is perfect.” “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” “God has three answers, ‘Yes,’ ‘no,’ and ‘wait.’
In 2 Peter 3:8, Peter wrote, “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” God’s existence is eternal. He is not impatient. In John 11, even in the case of His friend Lazarus who died before Jesus got to him, Jesus resurrected him. In this incident, our Lord’s delay was for His glory. Lazarus had been dead four days. Who could cast doubt and say that his resurrection was just a coincidence?
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.” God says in Isaiah 60:22, “I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.” Habakkuk 2:3 says, “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Lamentations 3:25-26 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him... It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
God responded to David’s complete dependence on Him. He did so before it was too late.
Since our Lord is a Savior, why not give Him the opportunity to save You? In whatever way you are poor and needy, ask God to be generous with you. God fills our gaps with grace.
In Ephesians 3:19, Paul prayed that we would “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height... of the love of Christ.” In Ephesians 3:20-21, Paul gave glory to God because God is the One “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” God is for us! He loves us!
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
This psalm of David, as others was set to music, and sent by him to the Chief Musician. He asked God to remember and deliver him from all the challenges that were being waged against him.
“Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!” Psalm 70:1
David asked God to respond quickly to his prayer. He believed God was listening to Him, but felt that a slow response to his request would be more than he could endure. In his first, “make haste” he uses the Hebrew word “Elohim” (God) while in his second, “make haste” he uses the word “Yahweh” (Lord). In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul wrote, “Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” I see David addressing the Father and the Son in this prayer (knowingly or unknowingly) by God’s Spirit. David wrote of God’s Son in Psalms 2:12 and 89:27.
The Lord is pleased to deliver us, and to do it quickly. Have we asked Him to intervene?
The Lord says in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
In Job 21:15, Job described the wicked as those who say, “Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? What profit do we have if we pray to Him?” We must reject those thoughts.
Our Lord Jesus was beaten, flogged, crucified and buried, and then, three days later He was up and walking among His disciples and telling them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our Savior. Saving is what He does!
In 1 Corinthians 15:57, Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 2:14, he wrote, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.”
“Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life. Let them be turned back and confused who desire my hurt. Let them be turned back because of their shame, who say, ‘Aha, aha!’” Psalm 70:1-3
David gave those who desired his hurt over to God. He asked God to turn them back. He asked
God to shame and confuse them. James Boice wrote, “The kindest thing we can pray for people who do wrong is that their plans will fail, for it may be that in their frustration they will see the folly and true end of evil and be reached for God.” [1]
David’s enemies exclaimed, “Aha! Aha!” “It was bad enough that David’s enemies wanted him dead. They also poured ridicule on him.” [2]
“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!’” Psalm 70:4
“David thought that to praise God was to magnify Him – that is, to make Him larger in one’s perception. Magnification does not actually make an object bigger, and we can’t make God bigger. Still, to magnify something or someone is to perceive it as bigger, and we must do that regarding God.” [3]
“But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer. O Lord, do not delay.” Psalm 70:5
David was poor and needy because he lacked the means to protect himself from the relentless attacks of those who hated him. He needed God to intervene before his enemies overwhelmed him. Thus, he asked God to hurry up.
We have various sayings about God’s timing. For example, “God’s timing is perfect.” “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” “God has three answers, ‘Yes,’ ‘no,’ and ‘wait.’
In 2 Peter 3:8, Peter wrote, “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” God’s existence is eternal. He is not impatient. In John 11, even in the case of His friend Lazarus who died before Jesus got to him, Jesus resurrected him. In this incident, our Lord’s delay was for His glory. Lazarus had been dead four days. Who could cast doubt and say that his resurrection was just a coincidence?
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.” God says in Isaiah 60:22, “I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.” Habakkuk 2:3 says, “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Lamentations 3:25-26 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him... It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
God responded to David’s complete dependence on Him. He did so before it was too late.
Since our Lord is a Savior, why not give Him the opportunity to save You? In whatever way you are poor and needy, ask God to be generous with you. God fills our gaps with grace.
In Ephesians 3:19, Paul prayed that we would “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height... of the love of Christ.” In Ephesians 3:20-21, Paul gave glory to God because God is the One “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” God is for us! He loves us!
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Not Fooled - Psalm 69
“To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Psalm of David.” Psalm 69:1
The Hebrew word for “lilies,” either describes an instrument so shaped, or denotes a tune by that name to which the Psalm was to be sung. This is a song of love, or, of beloved ones. [1]
“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail while I wait for my God.” Psalm 69:1-3
David uses picturesque language to describe his circumstances to God. You or I might say, “Help Lord! I am drowning. I cannot touch the bottom. I am going under. Soon, I will be silent. My eyes will go dark.”
Once, while floating in the water off the coast of Tai-O Island, I was enjoying being moved along by a current in the water. I did not grow up near an ocean. I had no idea that I was caught in a rip current. From a nearby pier, my Hong Kong friends began signaling to me and yelling something at me. Finally, I heard one say, “Swim for your life.” As I swam toward the pier, the current grew stronger. I asked the Lord to help me and He did. I made it to the pier, but was exhausted.
Thank God for revealing to us when we are in danger and for rescuing us when we ask for help!
“Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. They are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully. Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You. Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me. Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel. Because for Your sake I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.” Psalm 69:4-7
At first, King Saul wanted David dead. Later, it seems, evildoers within Israel wanted their law-loving king dead. They were more than the hairs on his head. They advocated that he be forced to restore things that he had not stolen. David did not want those who waited on the Lord to suffer confusion or shame due to his actions. At same time, he voiced his circumstances to God, saying that he was experiencing reproach and shame for the sake of God’s glory.
In Psalm 69, David is a type of Christ in regards to suffering. The Pharisees attacked Jesus relentlessly. In John 15:25, Jesus applied the prophecy, “They hated me without a cause” to Himself. 1 Peter 2:22 states that Jesus “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Jesus experienced unjust treatment by people in Israel.
“I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children, because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” Psalm 69:8-9
Both David and Jesus were mistreated by family members. In 1 Samuel 17:28, David’s oldest brother, Eliab, accused him of pride and wickedness. In John 7:5, the brothers of Christ did not believe in Him. In John 1:11, Jesus came to His own and His own received Him not. [2]
Zeal for God’s house consumed both David and Jesus. Zeal made both Christ and David to forget themselves, and do that which generated insults toward them for doing it. [3]
“When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach. I also made sackcloth my garment. I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of the drunkards.” Psalm 69:10-12
While David fasted and wept for souls, they cast insults at him. When David replaced his royal robe with the garment of a griever, they laughed at him. Drunkards made up songs about him. He was a headliner among gossipers in public places. They considered him contemptible.
In 1 Corinthians 4:9, Paul wrote, “I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death. We have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”
All who care for souls as Christ does will incur insults from Satan’s servants. Or as Paul put it in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
“But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time. O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.” Psalm 69:13
In contrast to those who scorned prayer, fasting, grieving for souls and zeal for God’s house, David remained committed to praying and seeking the Lord for mercy.
“Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up. And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.” Psalm 69:14-15
The mire, the deep waters and the floodwaters that David referred to in verses 1-2 of this Psalm are people who hate him. They dug pits for him. David did not want to be assassinated by them.
Ecclesiastes 8:8 says, “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death.” In Psalm 68:20, David wrote, “To God the Lord belong escapes from death.” In Hebrew 10:39, Paul wrote, “We are… those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
“Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good. Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble. Hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul and redeem it. Deliver me because of my enemies. You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before You.” Psalm 69:16-19
David’s enemies successfully convinced many that only fools were for him. This is how some people treat believers in Christ. David asked the Lord to offset his trouble with lovingkindness. The Lord was merciful to David and redeemed his soul. The real fools were those without God.
“Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:20-21
Jesus experienced ridicule and blasphemy from rebels. David wrote prophetically about Jesus when he wrote of reproach breaking His heart. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was full of heaviness. He looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but found none. While on the cross, His torturers gave Him gall for food, and vinegar to drink. [4]
The gall and vinegar was a pain reliever given to those who were about to die. Jesus refused it to bear the full brunt of the pain that our sin deserved. His heart was broken because those who crucified Him did not know what they were doing. They were murdering the very one who loved them the most. The Savior who delivers lost souls from hell!
Sin matters! Sin cost Jesus great pain, grief, and death. Murder, lying, deceiving, hatred, gossip, fornication, adultery, unforgiveness, greed, thievery, and rivalry are sins. Sin is the deadliest pandemic. It ends with death. And for those whose sin debt has not been paid, sin costs them an eternity of separation from God. An eternity in hell!
Hell is horrible! It is forever! It is the incinerator for those who trashed God and God’s Word. The worst humanitarian crisis is to be a lost soul on the way to hell.
The good news is Jesus Christ wants to save us. He wants to redeem us. In John 5:21, He said, “As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”
In John 5:24, Jesus said, “He who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
In other words, faith in Christ seals the deal. The believer in Him has eternal life.
“Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and make their loins shake continually.” Psalm 69:22-23
In Romans 11:9-10, Paul quoted these verses almost word for word and applied them to the judgments of God upon the unbelieving Jews.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Paul wrote of his countrymen who rejected Jesus Messiah, saying that they “killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us. They do not please God and are contrary to all men. They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” God’s wrath, and Paul’s was about their rejection of Messiah.
The table of the religious leaders became a snare to them. The table in this verse refers to the altar of the Lord. By their affection and adherence to the Old Testament altar they denied Messiah to whom the altar was a symbol according to Hebrews 13:10.
“Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place be desolate. Let no one live in their tents.” Psalm 69:24-25
Those who reject God’s Son should fear His wrath. In John 3:36, Jesus said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Behold the goodness and severity of God!
According to John 11:48, the very thing the religious leaders tried to prevent by crucifying Christ was fulfilled. Their dwelling place was left desolate. The temple and Jerusalem was destroyed. According to the 1st-century historian Josephus, approximately 1.1 million Jews died during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, many of whom were pilgrims trapped in the city. Another 97,000 were captured and enslaved. Many were forced into hard labor or killed in the arena. [5]
“For they persecute the ones You have struck and talk of the grief of those You have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity and let them not come into Your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” Psalm 68:26-28
The religious leaders slapped and spit on Christ when He stood in their council chamber. They shouted insults at Him while He hung on the cross dying for their sins and for the sins of the world. They turned souls against Jesus. Jesus had said to them in Matthew 23:15, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” The names of rejectors of Christ will not be written with the righteous in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
“But I am poor and sorrowful. Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.” Psalm 69:29
What did David think of himself? He was poor of spirit. He needed the Lord to save him and bring him to heaven. All of his hope was in God and not in himself.
“I will praise the Name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.” Psalm 69:30-31
“The Bible explicitly commands singing to God in approximately 50 instances, with over 400 references to singing in total.” [6] The first and great commandment is to love God with all one’s being. God wants to be loved. Think about it! Would you rather have a relationship with a disappointing person who is always apologizing to you, or a relationship with someone who adores you, and is grateful for you?
Don’t get me wrong, we all need the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross to atone for our sins. But let us press on into praising His Name. Singing God love songs! Magnifying and giving Him thanks!
“The humble shall see this and be glad. And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor and does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.” Psalm 69:32-34
“The psalmist here, both as a type of Christ and as an example to Christians, concludes a psalm with holy joy and praise.” [7]
Humble people are unashamed to profess faith in Christ. They rejoice when prodigals, like them, come to their senses, and seek God. The world might despise them, but God does not. He hears them. Therefore, they praise God with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Sing to God is what Paul and Silas did after they were imprisoned for the Lord. As they sang to the Lord, the earth was moved! Just as the stone before the tomb of Jesus could not stop His resurrection, neither could the prison stocks retain Paul and Silas. They stood upright and declared Good News to their prison guard. He believed in the Lord, and so did his entire family.
“For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His Name shall dwell in it.” Psalm 69:35-36
Jesus Christ was the King on the holy hill of Zion who gave His life for our salvation. His Gospel of the Kingdom has spread from Zion to the ends of the earth. In 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul wrote of birthing the Corinthians into the faith by preaching the Gospel to them. The Lord also used the words of Paul and John to birth me into the Christian faith. Now, I am a descendant of God’s servants who “shall inherit the land.” I love His Name. I pray that this is your testimony too.
[1] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[2] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] historyhit.com/66-ad
[6] https://www.9marks.org/article/sing-to-one-another
[7] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
The Hebrew word for “lilies,” either describes an instrument so shaped, or denotes a tune by that name to which the Psalm was to be sung. This is a song of love, or, of beloved ones. [1]
“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail while I wait for my God.” Psalm 69:1-3
David uses picturesque language to describe his circumstances to God. You or I might say, “Help Lord! I am drowning. I cannot touch the bottom. I am going under. Soon, I will be silent. My eyes will go dark.”
Once, while floating in the water off the coast of Tai-O Island, I was enjoying being moved along by a current in the water. I did not grow up near an ocean. I had no idea that I was caught in a rip current. From a nearby pier, my Hong Kong friends began signaling to me and yelling something at me. Finally, I heard one say, “Swim for your life.” As I swam toward the pier, the current grew stronger. I asked the Lord to help me and He did. I made it to the pier, but was exhausted.
Thank God for revealing to us when we are in danger and for rescuing us when we ask for help!
“Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. They are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully. Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You. Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me. Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel. Because for Your sake I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.” Psalm 69:4-7
At first, King Saul wanted David dead. Later, it seems, evildoers within Israel wanted their law-loving king dead. They were more than the hairs on his head. They advocated that he be forced to restore things that he had not stolen. David did not want those who waited on the Lord to suffer confusion or shame due to his actions. At same time, he voiced his circumstances to God, saying that he was experiencing reproach and shame for the sake of God’s glory.
In Psalm 69, David is a type of Christ in regards to suffering. The Pharisees attacked Jesus relentlessly. In John 15:25, Jesus applied the prophecy, “They hated me without a cause” to Himself. 1 Peter 2:22 states that Jesus “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Jesus experienced unjust treatment by people in Israel.
“I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children, because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” Psalm 69:8-9
Both David and Jesus were mistreated by family members. In 1 Samuel 17:28, David’s oldest brother, Eliab, accused him of pride and wickedness. In John 7:5, the brothers of Christ did not believe in Him. In John 1:11, Jesus came to His own and His own received Him not. [2]
Zeal for God’s house consumed both David and Jesus. Zeal made both Christ and David to forget themselves, and do that which generated insults toward them for doing it. [3]
“When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach. I also made sackcloth my garment. I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of the drunkards.” Psalm 69:10-12
While David fasted and wept for souls, they cast insults at him. When David replaced his royal robe with the garment of a griever, they laughed at him. Drunkards made up songs about him. He was a headliner among gossipers in public places. They considered him contemptible.
In 1 Corinthians 4:9, Paul wrote, “I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death. We have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”
All who care for souls as Christ does will incur insults from Satan’s servants. Or as Paul put it in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
“But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time. O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.” Psalm 69:13
In contrast to those who scorned prayer, fasting, grieving for souls and zeal for God’s house, David remained committed to praying and seeking the Lord for mercy.
“Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up. And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.” Psalm 69:14-15
The mire, the deep waters and the floodwaters that David referred to in verses 1-2 of this Psalm are people who hate him. They dug pits for him. David did not want to be assassinated by them.
Ecclesiastes 8:8 says, “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death.” In Psalm 68:20, David wrote, “To God the Lord belong escapes from death.” In Hebrew 10:39, Paul wrote, “We are… those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
“Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good. Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble. Hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul and redeem it. Deliver me because of my enemies. You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before You.” Psalm 69:16-19
David’s enemies successfully convinced many that only fools were for him. This is how some people treat believers in Christ. David asked the Lord to offset his trouble with lovingkindness. The Lord was merciful to David and redeemed his soul. The real fools were those without God.
“Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:20-21
Jesus experienced ridicule and blasphemy from rebels. David wrote prophetically about Jesus when he wrote of reproach breaking His heart. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was full of heaviness. He looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but found none. While on the cross, His torturers gave Him gall for food, and vinegar to drink. [4]
The gall and vinegar was a pain reliever given to those who were about to die. Jesus refused it to bear the full brunt of the pain that our sin deserved. His heart was broken because those who crucified Him did not know what they were doing. They were murdering the very one who loved them the most. The Savior who delivers lost souls from hell!
Sin matters! Sin cost Jesus great pain, grief, and death. Murder, lying, deceiving, hatred, gossip, fornication, adultery, unforgiveness, greed, thievery, and rivalry are sins. Sin is the deadliest pandemic. It ends with death. And for those whose sin debt has not been paid, sin costs them an eternity of separation from God. An eternity in hell!
Hell is horrible! It is forever! It is the incinerator for those who trashed God and God’s Word. The worst humanitarian crisis is to be a lost soul on the way to hell.
The good news is Jesus Christ wants to save us. He wants to redeem us. In John 5:21, He said, “As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”
In John 5:24, Jesus said, “He who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
In other words, faith in Christ seals the deal. The believer in Him has eternal life.
“Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and make their loins shake continually.” Psalm 69:22-23
In Romans 11:9-10, Paul quoted these verses almost word for word and applied them to the judgments of God upon the unbelieving Jews.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Paul wrote of his countrymen who rejected Jesus Messiah, saying that they “killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us. They do not please God and are contrary to all men. They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” God’s wrath, and Paul’s was about their rejection of Messiah.
The table of the religious leaders became a snare to them. The table in this verse refers to the altar of the Lord. By their affection and adherence to the Old Testament altar they denied Messiah to whom the altar was a symbol according to Hebrews 13:10.
“Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place be desolate. Let no one live in their tents.” Psalm 69:24-25
Those who reject God’s Son should fear His wrath. In John 3:36, Jesus said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Behold the goodness and severity of God!
According to John 11:48, the very thing the religious leaders tried to prevent by crucifying Christ was fulfilled. Their dwelling place was left desolate. The temple and Jerusalem was destroyed. According to the 1st-century historian Josephus, approximately 1.1 million Jews died during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, many of whom were pilgrims trapped in the city. Another 97,000 were captured and enslaved. Many were forced into hard labor or killed in the arena. [5]
“For they persecute the ones You have struck and talk of the grief of those You have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity and let them not come into Your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” Psalm 68:26-28
The religious leaders slapped and spit on Christ when He stood in their council chamber. They shouted insults at Him while He hung on the cross dying for their sins and for the sins of the world. They turned souls against Jesus. Jesus had said to them in Matthew 23:15, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” The names of rejectors of Christ will not be written with the righteous in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
“But I am poor and sorrowful. Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.” Psalm 69:29
What did David think of himself? He was poor of spirit. He needed the Lord to save him and bring him to heaven. All of his hope was in God and not in himself.
“I will praise the Name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.” Psalm 69:30-31
“The Bible explicitly commands singing to God in approximately 50 instances, with over 400 references to singing in total.” [6] The first and great commandment is to love God with all one’s being. God wants to be loved. Think about it! Would you rather have a relationship with a disappointing person who is always apologizing to you, or a relationship with someone who adores you, and is grateful for you?
Don’t get me wrong, we all need the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross to atone for our sins. But let us press on into praising His Name. Singing God love songs! Magnifying and giving Him thanks!
“The humble shall see this and be glad. And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor and does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.” Psalm 69:32-34
“The psalmist here, both as a type of Christ and as an example to Christians, concludes a psalm with holy joy and praise.” [7]
Humble people are unashamed to profess faith in Christ. They rejoice when prodigals, like them, come to their senses, and seek God. The world might despise them, but God does not. He hears them. Therefore, they praise God with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Sing to God is what Paul and Silas did after they were imprisoned for the Lord. As they sang to the Lord, the earth was moved! Just as the stone before the tomb of Jesus could not stop His resurrection, neither could the prison stocks retain Paul and Silas. They stood upright and declared Good News to their prison guard. He believed in the Lord, and so did his entire family.
“For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His Name shall dwell in it.” Psalm 69:35-36
Jesus Christ was the King on the holy hill of Zion who gave His life for our salvation. His Gospel of the Kingdom has spread from Zion to the ends of the earth. In 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul wrote of birthing the Corinthians into the faith by preaching the Gospel to them. The Lord also used the words of Paul and John to birth me into the Christian faith. Now, I am a descendant of God’s servants who “shall inherit the land.” I love His Name. I pray that this is your testimony too.
[1] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[2] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] historyhit.com/66-ad
[6] https://www.9marks.org/article/sing-to-one-another
[7] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Let God Arise – Psalm 68
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered. Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.” Psalm 68:1-2
David prays that God would appear in His glory as when the sun rises and dispels darkness. He prays for haters to be blown away as smoke before wind. He prays that the wicked will melt as wax does in the presence of fire. Just so, may God’s presence with us melt them.
David’s prayed a prayer that Moses taught the nation of Israel to pray in times of war. In Number 10:35, Moses prayed, “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.” David expanded on it.
Jesus Messiah was the Messenger of the Covenant that guided Israel through the wilderness. [1] He defeated their physical enemies. Then, later in the Gospels, when He resurrected from the dead, He defeated the greatest enemies of Jew and Gentile, namely, death and hell.
Revelation 12:17 indicates that Satan’s war is with those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
We can pray for our enemies by asking God to remove the serpent’s venom from their blood. Replace animosity toward God with affection for Him! Replace pride with humility! Replace lies with truth! Replace doubt with faith! If they perish in their sins, they will experience hell.
In 2 Peter 3:7, the Lord says that the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 , the Lord says that He will take “flaming fire vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In Acts 17:22, 30-31, while standing near the Areopagus in Athens, Greece, Paul declared that the “times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Repentance of sin and profession of faith in Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation.
“But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.” Psalm 68:3
Those who rejoice in God have reason to rejoice with exceeding joy. Nevertheless, we pray for this joy to fill all who live in a right relationship with Him.
“Sing to God, sing praises to His Name. Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His Name Yah, and rejoice before Him.” Psalm 68:4
David refers back to Moses again. In Deuteronomy 33:26, Moses blessed Israel, saying, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds.” David invites us to sing praises and rejoice in Yah, the God of our salvation.
“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families.” Psalm 68:5
God is great, but He does not despise fatherless children, the widows, or the lonely. He is all-sufficient to them. His grace fills the gaps in their lives. He fills the voids with His presence.
He who rides on the heavens by His name Jah, is worshipped by angels as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the sovereign director of all the affairs of states and nations. Yet, He glories in being a Father of the fatherless. Though God is high, He regards the lowly. Happy are those that have an interest in such a God as this. He is a Father worth having.
While I was teaching English in China, my wife and I met a woman and her three daughters right after their husband/father went to be with the Lord. Before he passed away, he urged them to believe in Jesus, and they did. The widow’s name was He Rae Hua. She wrote a poem to the Lord entitled, “The Love I Lost and the Love I gained.” The Lord met all her needs wonderfully. I had the privilege to take part in the marriage ceremonies of two of her daughters.
Suffering children are safe in God’s arms. Healing comes from His hands. There is none like God. [2] God is the creator and builder of families. He enjoys surrounding lonely people with lovers.
“He brings out those who are bound into prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” Psalm 68:6
God loosens chains that bind people. In Acts 12:6-19, the Lord sent an angel to retrieve Peter from Herod’s prison. Peter was chained between two soldiers. The angel caused the chains to fall off Peter’s hands. The angel walked Peter past two sets of security guards. The angel opened the city’s iron gate. None of these highly trained guards noticed Peter missing until the next day.
The rebellious dwell in a dry land. God’s blessing is not on what is obtained by fraud. The best land becomes a dry land to them. God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness was constant whereas sometimes the Nile River failed the Egyptians. Their Nile god was no god.
“O God, when You went out before Your people when You marched through the wilderness, Selah! The earth shook. The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God. Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, when it was weary. Your congregation dwelt in it. You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.” Psalm 68:7-10
God made a way for His people where there seemed to be no way. [3]
David’s song reiterates what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 4:33: “Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?”
Deborah the prophetess wrote in her song of victory, “Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens poured, the clouds also poured water. The mountains gushed before the Lord.”
The Lord provided for Israel in the wilderness. He rained manna and quail upon them. He did miracles for them when they were weary. God provided out of His goodness for the poor.
“The Lord gave the Word. Great was the company of those who proclaimed it.” Psalm 68:11
The Lord gave Israel victory over their enemies. From the time they entered Canaan, during the times of the judges, until David’s days. God was their Commander-in-Chief. He gave the Word as generals do for their armies. God gave His judges commissions and assured them of success.
The Hebrew word for company (צָבָא) is feminine in gender and refers to a group or choir of women proclaiming God’s victory over their foes. In Exodus 15:20, the prophetess Miriam led a group of women in worship to the Lord for His victory over Pharoah. In Judges 5, the prophetess Deborah sang to the Lord after He gave Israel a victory over General Jabin’s 900 chariots of iron. In 1 Samuel 18:7, the women of Israel celebrated David’s victory over 10,000 Philistines. In Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s soul magnified the Lord when the angel told her that she would bring forth Israel’s Messiah. In Luke 1:51-52, she said, “He [God] has shown strength with His arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.”
Israel’s victories over their foes are a foreshadowing of Messiah’s victories over death and hell. Christ’s resurrection defeated our spiritual enemies. Their power was broken. In Matthew 28:7, Christ’s victory was first proclaimed by the women (the she-publishers) to the disciples. [4]
“Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home divides the spoil. Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Zalmon.” Psalm 68:12-14
Enemy armies have fled before God. They retreated in fear without firing an arrow. They did not regroup and try again. Israel was enriched by their losses.
When the Almighty scattered kings for Israel, she was white as snow, purified and refined by seeing God’s Word embodied with mighty miracles.
God advanced Israel from a low and despised position to a place of splendor. She became one of the most prosperous kingdoms on earth. While God adorned Israel with wings of silver and feathers of gold, idolaters were still worshipping wood and stone, and groveling in vile lusts.
“A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan. A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in. Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.” Psalm 68:15-16
David prefers God’s mountain over Bashan. Zion was the hill which God had chosen, therefore though Bashan exceeded it in size, it lacked the Lord’s special presence. God dwells in Zion. [5]
“The chariots of God are twenty thousand. Even thousands of thousands! The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.” Psalm 68:17
Angels are the chariots of God, His chariots of war, which He make use of against His enemies, as He did for Elijah. [6] In 2 Kings 2:11, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. In 2 Kings 16:15-17, when the servant of Elisha was afraid, Elisha prayed, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” “Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
In Deuteronomy 33:2, Moses wrote, “The Lord came from Sinai... He came with ten thousands of saints. From His right hand came a fiery law for them.” In Acts 7:53, martyr Stephen scolded his executioners, “You have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
The enemies David fought with had chariots (2 Samuel 8:4), but what were they, for number or strength, to the chariots of God? In Psalms 20:7, David testified, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.”
In Matthew 26:51-53, Peter used his sword to strike a guard who came to arrest Jesus. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
“You have ascended on high You have led captivity captive. You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah! Our God is the God of salvation. And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm, 68:18-20
In Ephesians 4:8, Paul quotes the phrase “captivity captive” and “received gifts among men.” He applies its interpretation to Christ ascending on high and giving His people gifts of the Holy Spirit. Christ triumphed over the gates of hell. He opened the gates of heaven to believers. He received gifts for men. The gifts according to Ephesians 4:11 were apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers. Anointed servants of God to edify the body of Christ!
What does God do for those who are willing to receive from Him? He daily loads us with His benefits. He is the God of our salvation.
The Lord helps us escape from death. In Revelation 1:18, the keys of hell and death are in the hand of the Lord Jesus. Having made an escape from death in His resurrection, Jesus Christ has both authority and power to rescue from death.
“But God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.” Psalm 68:21
In Genesis 3:15, God foretold that the Seed of the woman would crush Satan’s head. Jesus Christ is that Seed. He crushed Satan’s stronghold on human souls by dying on the cross to remove our sins from us and by opening the way for the Holy Spirit to fill us.
“The Lord said, ‘I will bring back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that your foot may crush them in blood, and the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.’” Psalm 68:22-23
The land of Bashan was on the other side of Jordan where they had wars with Sihon and Og. There, the blood of their enemies flowed like water and dogs lapped it up. Dogs also lapped up the blood of Israel’s evil King Ahab and evil Queen Jezebel. In 1 Kings 22:38, dogs lapped up Ahab’s blood after he died in battle. In 2 Kings 9:30-37, dogs consumed all of Jezebel’s corpse except for her skull, hands and feet.
“They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after. Among them were the maidens playing timbrels. Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.” Psalm 68:24-26
What witness did God’s people give to those who heard of their triumph? They saw them entering God’s sanctuary. They saw singers of praise followed by Levites playing joyful music, and ladies playing timbrels. God’s Spirit uplifted their souls to sing joyful songs.
“There is little Benjamin, their leader, the princes of Judah and their company, the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.” Psalm 68:27
People from the tribe of Benjamin (former King Saul’s tribe) entered first, then, princes of Judah (the royal tribe of King David) followed, and after them, princes from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Why are Zebulun and Naphtali particularly mentioned? Perhaps, because they had suffered more attacks from the Syrians than any other tribe, yet, survived and thrived.
“Your God has commanded your strength. ‘Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us. Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to You.” Psalm 68:28-29
What God does, He will strengthen! Missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, once said, “Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God's supply.”
God strengthens what He wants for us. One way that He strengthens it is by moving the hearts of rulers to support our effort. In Nehemiah 2:8-9, Nehemiah testified that the reason his king granted him supplies was because the good hand of God was upon him. In 1 Kings 9:10–14; 26–28, King Hiram of Tyre sent timber, gold, and craftsmen to help with the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. God also moved King David’s heart to strengthen His kingdom on earth.
“Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples who delight in war. Envoys will come out of Egypt. Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.” Psalm 68:30-31
“The ‘beast’ and the ‘bulls’ denote the oppressors, troublers, and seducers of the nations. They must come to an end.” [7] David asked the Lord to scattered those who enjoy war. Egypt and Ethiopia needed to humble themselves before God. To repent! To stretch uplifted hands to Him!
“Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! O, sing praises to the Lord! Selah! To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice! Ascribe strength to God. His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:32-35
David urges us to sing praises to the Lord. Indeed, we should measure our spirituality by the measure of our love for God. He is worthy! Do the images we look at yield worship to God? Do our choices of food and drink honor God? May all we do bring glory to God!
God rides upon the heavens of heavens. During a battle, an army on high ground holds the advantage over an opposing army. God’s army is above all others. David urges us to give our strength and power to God. Go all in with God! Bless Him and Him alone! To God be the glory!
[1] Matthw Henry’s Commentary
[2] Based on lyrics from the song, “There is None Like You” by Lenny LeBlanc
[3] Based on lyrics from the song, “God Will Make a Way” by Don Moen
[4] Matthw Henry’s Commentary
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Enduring Word Commentary with quote from VanGemeren
David prays that God would appear in His glory as when the sun rises and dispels darkness. He prays for haters to be blown away as smoke before wind. He prays that the wicked will melt as wax does in the presence of fire. Just so, may God’s presence with us melt them.
David’s prayed a prayer that Moses taught the nation of Israel to pray in times of war. In Number 10:35, Moses prayed, “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.” David expanded on it.
Jesus Messiah was the Messenger of the Covenant that guided Israel through the wilderness. [1] He defeated their physical enemies. Then, later in the Gospels, when He resurrected from the dead, He defeated the greatest enemies of Jew and Gentile, namely, death and hell.
Revelation 12:17 indicates that Satan’s war is with those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
We can pray for our enemies by asking God to remove the serpent’s venom from their blood. Replace animosity toward God with affection for Him! Replace pride with humility! Replace lies with truth! Replace doubt with faith! If they perish in their sins, they will experience hell.
In 2 Peter 3:7, the Lord says that the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 , the Lord says that He will take “flaming fire vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In Acts 17:22, 30-31, while standing near the Areopagus in Athens, Greece, Paul declared that the “times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Repentance of sin and profession of faith in Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation.
“But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.” Psalm 68:3
Those who rejoice in God have reason to rejoice with exceeding joy. Nevertheless, we pray for this joy to fill all who live in a right relationship with Him.
“Sing to God, sing praises to His Name. Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His Name Yah, and rejoice before Him.” Psalm 68:4
David refers back to Moses again. In Deuteronomy 33:26, Moses blessed Israel, saying, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds.” David invites us to sing praises and rejoice in Yah, the God of our salvation.
“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families.” Psalm 68:5
God is great, but He does not despise fatherless children, the widows, or the lonely. He is all-sufficient to them. His grace fills the gaps in their lives. He fills the voids with His presence.
He who rides on the heavens by His name Jah, is worshipped by angels as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the sovereign director of all the affairs of states and nations. Yet, He glories in being a Father of the fatherless. Though God is high, He regards the lowly. Happy are those that have an interest in such a God as this. He is a Father worth having.
While I was teaching English in China, my wife and I met a woman and her three daughters right after their husband/father went to be with the Lord. Before he passed away, he urged them to believe in Jesus, and they did. The widow’s name was He Rae Hua. She wrote a poem to the Lord entitled, “The Love I Lost and the Love I gained.” The Lord met all her needs wonderfully. I had the privilege to take part in the marriage ceremonies of two of her daughters.
Suffering children are safe in God’s arms. Healing comes from His hands. There is none like God. [2] God is the creator and builder of families. He enjoys surrounding lonely people with lovers.
“He brings out those who are bound into prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” Psalm 68:6
God loosens chains that bind people. In Acts 12:6-19, the Lord sent an angel to retrieve Peter from Herod’s prison. Peter was chained between two soldiers. The angel caused the chains to fall off Peter’s hands. The angel walked Peter past two sets of security guards. The angel opened the city’s iron gate. None of these highly trained guards noticed Peter missing until the next day.
The rebellious dwell in a dry land. God’s blessing is not on what is obtained by fraud. The best land becomes a dry land to them. God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness was constant whereas sometimes the Nile River failed the Egyptians. Their Nile god was no god.
“O God, when You went out before Your people when You marched through the wilderness, Selah! The earth shook. The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God. Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, when it was weary. Your congregation dwelt in it. You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.” Psalm 68:7-10
God made a way for His people where there seemed to be no way. [3]
David’s song reiterates what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 4:33: “Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?”
Deborah the prophetess wrote in her song of victory, “Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens poured, the clouds also poured water. The mountains gushed before the Lord.”
The Lord provided for Israel in the wilderness. He rained manna and quail upon them. He did miracles for them when they were weary. God provided out of His goodness for the poor.
“The Lord gave the Word. Great was the company of those who proclaimed it.” Psalm 68:11
The Lord gave Israel victory over their enemies. From the time they entered Canaan, during the times of the judges, until David’s days. God was their Commander-in-Chief. He gave the Word as generals do for their armies. God gave His judges commissions and assured them of success.
The Hebrew word for company (צָבָא) is feminine in gender and refers to a group or choir of women proclaiming God’s victory over their foes. In Exodus 15:20, the prophetess Miriam led a group of women in worship to the Lord for His victory over Pharoah. In Judges 5, the prophetess Deborah sang to the Lord after He gave Israel a victory over General Jabin’s 900 chariots of iron. In 1 Samuel 18:7, the women of Israel celebrated David’s victory over 10,000 Philistines. In Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s soul magnified the Lord when the angel told her that she would bring forth Israel’s Messiah. In Luke 1:51-52, she said, “He [God] has shown strength with His arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.”
Israel’s victories over their foes are a foreshadowing of Messiah’s victories over death and hell. Christ’s resurrection defeated our spiritual enemies. Their power was broken. In Matthew 28:7, Christ’s victory was first proclaimed by the women (the she-publishers) to the disciples. [4]
“Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home divides the spoil. Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Zalmon.” Psalm 68:12-14
Enemy armies have fled before God. They retreated in fear without firing an arrow. They did not regroup and try again. Israel was enriched by their losses.
When the Almighty scattered kings for Israel, she was white as snow, purified and refined by seeing God’s Word embodied with mighty miracles.
God advanced Israel from a low and despised position to a place of splendor. She became one of the most prosperous kingdoms on earth. While God adorned Israel with wings of silver and feathers of gold, idolaters were still worshipping wood and stone, and groveling in vile lusts.
“A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan. A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in. Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.” Psalm 68:15-16
David prefers God’s mountain over Bashan. Zion was the hill which God had chosen, therefore though Bashan exceeded it in size, it lacked the Lord’s special presence. God dwells in Zion. [5]
“The chariots of God are twenty thousand. Even thousands of thousands! The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.” Psalm 68:17
Angels are the chariots of God, His chariots of war, which He make use of against His enemies, as He did for Elijah. [6] In 2 Kings 2:11, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. In 2 Kings 16:15-17, when the servant of Elisha was afraid, Elisha prayed, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” “Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
In Deuteronomy 33:2, Moses wrote, “The Lord came from Sinai... He came with ten thousands of saints. From His right hand came a fiery law for them.” In Acts 7:53, martyr Stephen scolded his executioners, “You have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
The enemies David fought with had chariots (2 Samuel 8:4), but what were they, for number or strength, to the chariots of God? In Psalms 20:7, David testified, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.”
In Matthew 26:51-53, Peter used his sword to strike a guard who came to arrest Jesus. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
“You have ascended on high You have led captivity captive. You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah! Our God is the God of salvation. And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm, 68:18-20
In Ephesians 4:8, Paul quotes the phrase “captivity captive” and “received gifts among men.” He applies its interpretation to Christ ascending on high and giving His people gifts of the Holy Spirit. Christ triumphed over the gates of hell. He opened the gates of heaven to believers. He received gifts for men. The gifts according to Ephesians 4:11 were apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers. Anointed servants of God to edify the body of Christ!
What does God do for those who are willing to receive from Him? He daily loads us with His benefits. He is the God of our salvation.
The Lord helps us escape from death. In Revelation 1:18, the keys of hell and death are in the hand of the Lord Jesus. Having made an escape from death in His resurrection, Jesus Christ has both authority and power to rescue from death.
“But God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.” Psalm 68:21
In Genesis 3:15, God foretold that the Seed of the woman would crush Satan’s head. Jesus Christ is that Seed. He crushed Satan’s stronghold on human souls by dying on the cross to remove our sins from us and by opening the way for the Holy Spirit to fill us.
“The Lord said, ‘I will bring back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that your foot may crush them in blood, and the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.’” Psalm 68:22-23
The land of Bashan was on the other side of Jordan where they had wars with Sihon and Og. There, the blood of their enemies flowed like water and dogs lapped it up. Dogs also lapped up the blood of Israel’s evil King Ahab and evil Queen Jezebel. In 1 Kings 22:38, dogs lapped up Ahab’s blood after he died in battle. In 2 Kings 9:30-37, dogs consumed all of Jezebel’s corpse except for her skull, hands and feet.
“They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after. Among them were the maidens playing timbrels. Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.” Psalm 68:24-26
What witness did God’s people give to those who heard of their triumph? They saw them entering God’s sanctuary. They saw singers of praise followed by Levites playing joyful music, and ladies playing timbrels. God’s Spirit uplifted their souls to sing joyful songs.
“There is little Benjamin, their leader, the princes of Judah and their company, the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.” Psalm 68:27
People from the tribe of Benjamin (former King Saul’s tribe) entered first, then, princes of Judah (the royal tribe of King David) followed, and after them, princes from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Why are Zebulun and Naphtali particularly mentioned? Perhaps, because they had suffered more attacks from the Syrians than any other tribe, yet, survived and thrived.
“Your God has commanded your strength. ‘Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us. Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to You.” Psalm 68:28-29
What God does, He will strengthen! Missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, once said, “Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God's supply.”
God strengthens what He wants for us. One way that He strengthens it is by moving the hearts of rulers to support our effort. In Nehemiah 2:8-9, Nehemiah testified that the reason his king granted him supplies was because the good hand of God was upon him. In 1 Kings 9:10–14; 26–28, King Hiram of Tyre sent timber, gold, and craftsmen to help with the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. God also moved King David’s heart to strengthen His kingdom on earth.
“Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples who delight in war. Envoys will come out of Egypt. Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.” Psalm 68:30-31
“The ‘beast’ and the ‘bulls’ denote the oppressors, troublers, and seducers of the nations. They must come to an end.” [7] David asked the Lord to scattered those who enjoy war. Egypt and Ethiopia needed to humble themselves before God. To repent! To stretch uplifted hands to Him!
“Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! O, sing praises to the Lord! Selah! To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice! Ascribe strength to God. His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:32-35
David urges us to sing praises to the Lord. Indeed, we should measure our spirituality by the measure of our love for God. He is worthy! Do the images we look at yield worship to God? Do our choices of food and drink honor God? May all we do bring glory to God!
God rides upon the heavens of heavens. During a battle, an army on high ground holds the advantage over an opposing army. God’s army is above all others. David urges us to give our strength and power to God. Go all in with God! Bless Him and Him alone! To God be the glory!
[1] Matthw Henry’s Commentary
[2] Based on lyrics from the song, “There is None Like You” by Lenny LeBlanc
[3] Based on lyrics from the song, “God Will Make a Way” by Don Moen
[4] Matthw Henry’s Commentary
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Enduring Word Commentary with quote from VanGemeren
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Favorable Faces Shining – Psalm 67
“To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah!” Psalm 67:1
God’s mercy, blessing and His face turned toward us with approving favor yields happiness. David composed a prayer-song about this. He sang to God for mercy, blessing and for His favor.
Matthew Henry wrote, “We need desire no more to make us happy than to have God’s face shine upon us, to have God love us, and let us know that He loves us.” [1]
“That Your way may be known on earth. Your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:2
Why do we seek God’s mercy, favor and blessing? The answer is so that His ways and salvation may be made known among the nations. When we enjoy the presence of God, we want to tell others about Him.
David sung to the Lord petitions for the conversion of the nations, “That Your way may be known upon earth. “Lord, I pray not only that You will be merciful to us and bless us, but that You will be merciful to all humankind, that Your way may be known upon earth.” [2]
David’s prayer-song parallels what Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10. The first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer from the original Greek to English is, “Our Father who [is] in the heavens. Let Your Name be made holy! Let your kingdom come! Let your will be done, as in heaven also on earth.” The Lord’s Prayer is also about God’s ways being made known and His salvation being experienced by people on the earth.
“Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:3
Amen! And I pray, “Heavenly Father, help us to go to highways, byways and next door to invite people to join us in worshipping You. Holy Spirit, please direct social media users to Christ-worshipping websites, as well as to radio stations that resound Your praises!”
“O, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah!” Psalm 67:4
Are we tired of hearing stories about liars, thieves and warmongers leading our nations? Let us turn to the Lord and be glad in Him! Let us sing for joy to Him! Thus, by our worship and praises to Him, profess our confidence that all the evildoers of the world combined together are as wind before Him. Our God is God Almighty Maker of heaven and earth. When we invite Him to judge and govern our nations, He sends forth His angels to fight the battles and turn the tide.
“Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:5
Yes, my prayer is, “Heavenly Father may our praises arise to You like the vapors of the earth that seed the clouds which in turn drop down rain upon our crops and cause them to produce abundantly. As we worship You, make the works of our hands and the meditations of our hearts bring forth abundant fruit for Your glory!”
“Let all the people praise You!” Not just some but all people! “Let us bring to You Abba Father whole-hearted worship in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.”
I cannot imagine a better way to preach the Gospel or to testify for Jesus than do it with a heart filled with love for Him and with joy in Him. Such worship changes people.
In John 12:32, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
“Then the earth shall yield her increase. God, our own God, shall bless us.” Psalm 67:6
The earth yielded its increase more than before after Israel worshipped God. The Creator of meat, fruits and vegetables blessed the produce of them.
God blessed their food as they thanked Him for it. In 1 Timothy 4:3-5, Paul wrote, “God created foods to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.”
“God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:7
The ends of the earth shall fear Him, that is, harbor honorable thoughts about God.
In Psalm 42:11, David wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him, the health of my countenance, and my God.” It makes sense that if God’s favor yields fruitful crops, His favor also yields a fruitful me. He is the health of my countenance. When I looked up the word for “health” in this verse, I discovered it was “יְשׁוּעֹת” from the word “Yeshua” or Jesus which means Savior.
While in the Orient, I learned that there are certain cultural do’s and don’ts to observe so as not to “lose face.” When all is said and done, it will be those who worship “יְשׁוּעֹת, Yeshua, Jesus, Savior, that shall not lose face. Our faces shall shine like the Son thanks to Him. In Psalm 34:5, David wrote, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
God’s mercy, blessing and His face turned toward us with approving favor yields happiness. David composed a prayer-song about this. He sang to God for mercy, blessing and for His favor.
Matthew Henry wrote, “We need desire no more to make us happy than to have God’s face shine upon us, to have God love us, and let us know that He loves us.” [1]
“That Your way may be known on earth. Your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:2
Why do we seek God’s mercy, favor and blessing? The answer is so that His ways and salvation may be made known among the nations. When we enjoy the presence of God, we want to tell others about Him.
David sung to the Lord petitions for the conversion of the nations, “That Your way may be known upon earth. “Lord, I pray not only that You will be merciful to us and bless us, but that You will be merciful to all humankind, that Your way may be known upon earth.” [2]
David’s prayer-song parallels what Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10. The first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer from the original Greek to English is, “Our Father who [is] in the heavens. Let Your Name be made holy! Let your kingdom come! Let your will be done, as in heaven also on earth.” The Lord’s Prayer is also about God’s ways being made known and His salvation being experienced by people on the earth.
“Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:3
Amen! And I pray, “Heavenly Father, help us to go to highways, byways and next door to invite people to join us in worshipping You. Holy Spirit, please direct social media users to Christ-worshipping websites, as well as to radio stations that resound Your praises!”
“O, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah!” Psalm 67:4
Are we tired of hearing stories about liars, thieves and warmongers leading our nations? Let us turn to the Lord and be glad in Him! Let us sing for joy to Him! Thus, by our worship and praises to Him, profess our confidence that all the evildoers of the world combined together are as wind before Him. Our God is God Almighty Maker of heaven and earth. When we invite Him to judge and govern our nations, He sends forth His angels to fight the battles and turn the tide.
“Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:5
Yes, my prayer is, “Heavenly Father may our praises arise to You like the vapors of the earth that seed the clouds which in turn drop down rain upon our crops and cause them to produce abundantly. As we worship You, make the works of our hands and the meditations of our hearts bring forth abundant fruit for Your glory!”
“Let all the people praise You!” Not just some but all people! “Let us bring to You Abba Father whole-hearted worship in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.”
I cannot imagine a better way to preach the Gospel or to testify for Jesus than do it with a heart filled with love for Him and with joy in Him. Such worship changes people.
In John 12:32, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
“Then the earth shall yield her increase. God, our own God, shall bless us.” Psalm 67:6
The earth yielded its increase more than before after Israel worshipped God. The Creator of meat, fruits and vegetables blessed the produce of them.
God blessed their food as they thanked Him for it. In 1 Timothy 4:3-5, Paul wrote, “God created foods to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.”
“God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:7
The ends of the earth shall fear Him, that is, harbor honorable thoughts about God.
In Psalm 42:11, David wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him, the health of my countenance, and my God.” It makes sense that if God’s favor yields fruitful crops, His favor also yields a fruitful me. He is the health of my countenance. When I looked up the word for “health” in this verse, I discovered it was “יְשׁוּעֹת” from the word “Yeshua” or Jesus which means Savior.
While in the Orient, I learned that there are certain cultural do’s and don’ts to observe so as not to “lose face.” When all is said and done, it will be those who worship “יְשׁוּעֹת, Yeshua, Jesus, Savior, that shall not lose face. Our faces shall shine like the Son thanks to Him. In Psalm 34:5, David wrote, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
Monday, May 11, 2026
Worshippers of our Lord Jesus Christ – Psalm 66
“To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His Name. Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You. They shall sing praises to Your Name.’ Selah!” Psalm 66:1-4
All earthlings joyfully shouting to God! Imagine the loudness of that shout! It would be great if, perhaps on livestream, we all joined in singing harmoniously in honor of the Name of the Lord. Hands uplifted to the Lord, singing, “Your works are awesome.” God’s Word says that all the earth shall worship and sing praises to God. It shall come to pass.
In the early 1980’s, I participated in a worship service at Grace World Outreach Center in St. Louis with 5,000 in attendance. Several Integrity Hosanna “live” music albums, featuring artists like Ron Tucker and Kent Henry, were recorded in this sanctuary. The Spirit of the Lord used their “live” worship song recordings to fuel our service unto Christ while on the mission field.
During the 1990’s, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) held a large international convention in Hong Kong. During that convention, thousands of men were jumping and joyfully dancing to the Lord. This convention took place on the second floor of a tall building. During the worship, I turned to my friend Eddie Chan, and said to him, “It feels like the floor is moving up and down.” Eddie told me that the building was made to flex as a caution against earthquakes. That was my first time to worship God on a floor that felt like Jello.
I also attended Billy Graham crusades in Hong Kong and in Tampa, Florida. There were tens of thousands of people praising the Lord there.
Let us pray for more people to be inspired to organize and host large worship services unto the Lord. He is worthy of our thanks and praise.
“Come and see the works of God. He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.” Psalm 66:5-6
How do we see the works of God? We see them with spiritual and physical eyes. We see the works of God in the Scripture through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s words are living words. As we think on Scriptures, the Holy Spirit helps us to believe the stories. We also see the works of God with our physical eyes as we offer ourselves to serve people in the Name of Jesus. For example, one time in China, while others and I prayed in the Name of Jesus for a man with a swollen ankle, his ankle immediately became normal. He jumped around and praised the Lord.
“He rules by His power forever. His eyes observe the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah!” Psalm 66:7
The power of God Almighty remains the same no matter what people think or say about it. We can’t see the wind but it is there. We cannot see God with our physical eyes, but He sees us. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” We should not rebel against our Heavenly Father. He loves us and seeks to save us from an eternity in hell.
“O, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us. You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net. You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” Psalm 66:8-12
While in this world, we are apt to be tripped up by trouble. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
When persecuted, God’s people were as panicked as a bird in a trap. Enclosed and entangled by trouble as a fish in a net! They were pressed down by it! Kept under a load of it. [1] But unable to free themselves, they relied 100% on God for deliverance. He did not disappoint them.
Is anything more dangerous than fire and water? We went through both, that is, afflictions of different kinds. As one trouble ended, another began. Such may be the troubles of the best of God’s saints, but in Isaiah 43:2-3, God has promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” [2]
In Psalm 124:2-4, 6-8, David wrote, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us. Then, the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul.” “Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
In 1 Peter 1:3-7, Peter blesses the Lord for birthing us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ into an inheritance that is reserved in heaven for us. We rejoice because we are kept by the power of God “though now for a little while, if need be,” we “have been grieved by various trials.” Why? The answer is “that the genuineness of” our “faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” When Jesus Christ appears, we will “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,” because we will receive the end of our faith—the salvation of our souls.
Our troubles will certainly end well. They are fire and water, but God gets us through them. [3] The waters are an inlet to the garden of the Lord. Our heavenly Vinedresser pruned us to make us more fruitful than ever before.
“I will go into Your house with burnt offerings. I will pay You my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.” Psalm 66:13-14
David did not forget what he promised to do for God when he was in trouble. He was grateful to the Lord and wanted to express his gratitude both with words and deeds.
“I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, with the sweet aroma of rams. I will offer bulls with goats. Selah!” Psalm 66:15
David praised the Lord with generous offerings such as rams, bulls and goats. Not all people had the means or zeal to offer these sacrifices in praise of God, but David was so blessed.
In Luke 12:48, Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” David was happy to be able and willing to give back more to the Lord due to his many blessings.
“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me. He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!” Psalm 66:16-20
David speaks to those who fear God. He wants to strengthen our confidence in God. What did the Lord Jesus Christ do for his soul? The Lord listened to the cry of his mouth. The Lord received the praises of David’s tongue. David’s heavenly Father attended the voice of his prayer as though at a wonderful event.
David had offered generous sacrifices to the Lord as God had ordained at that time for sinners to do. He recognized his need for the shedding of blood for the remission of his sin. In Hebrews 9:22, Paul wrote, “And according to the Law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” David neither denied nor disregarded his need for blood to wash away his sin. Nor should we! David said to those who fear the Lord, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me.” He sought the Lord’s forgiveness, then, he prayed and God listened to him.
What sacrifice do we bring to God when we pray? We offer to Him a sacrifice that is much more precious than the blood of rams, bulls and goats. We come to the Father in the Name of Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the world’s sin and ours. And what did Jesus say would happen if we asked for help in His Name? In John 14:13-14, He said, “Whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”
What do I want to ask our Lord for after reading Psalm 66? “In Your Name, Lord Jesus, I ask for a heart of worship toward You, and for the heritage of other lovers and worshippers of You.”
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
All earthlings joyfully shouting to God! Imagine the loudness of that shout! It would be great if, perhaps on livestream, we all joined in singing harmoniously in honor of the Name of the Lord. Hands uplifted to the Lord, singing, “Your works are awesome.” God’s Word says that all the earth shall worship and sing praises to God. It shall come to pass.
In the early 1980’s, I participated in a worship service at Grace World Outreach Center in St. Louis with 5,000 in attendance. Several Integrity Hosanna “live” music albums, featuring artists like Ron Tucker and Kent Henry, were recorded in this sanctuary. The Spirit of the Lord used their “live” worship song recordings to fuel our service unto Christ while on the mission field.
During the 1990’s, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) held a large international convention in Hong Kong. During that convention, thousands of men were jumping and joyfully dancing to the Lord. This convention took place on the second floor of a tall building. During the worship, I turned to my friend Eddie Chan, and said to him, “It feels like the floor is moving up and down.” Eddie told me that the building was made to flex as a caution against earthquakes. That was my first time to worship God on a floor that felt like Jello.
I also attended Billy Graham crusades in Hong Kong and in Tampa, Florida. There were tens of thousands of people praising the Lord there.
Let us pray for more people to be inspired to organize and host large worship services unto the Lord. He is worthy of our thanks and praise.
“Come and see the works of God. He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.” Psalm 66:5-6
How do we see the works of God? We see them with spiritual and physical eyes. We see the works of God in the Scripture through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s words are living words. As we think on Scriptures, the Holy Spirit helps us to believe the stories. We also see the works of God with our physical eyes as we offer ourselves to serve people in the Name of Jesus. For example, one time in China, while others and I prayed in the Name of Jesus for a man with a swollen ankle, his ankle immediately became normal. He jumped around and praised the Lord.
“He rules by His power forever. His eyes observe the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah!” Psalm 66:7
The power of God Almighty remains the same no matter what people think or say about it. We can’t see the wind but it is there. We cannot see God with our physical eyes, but He sees us. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” We should not rebel against our Heavenly Father. He loves us and seeks to save us from an eternity in hell.
“O, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us. You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net. You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” Psalm 66:8-12
While in this world, we are apt to be tripped up by trouble. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
When persecuted, God’s people were as panicked as a bird in a trap. Enclosed and entangled by trouble as a fish in a net! They were pressed down by it! Kept under a load of it. [1] But unable to free themselves, they relied 100% on God for deliverance. He did not disappoint them.
Is anything more dangerous than fire and water? We went through both, that is, afflictions of different kinds. As one trouble ended, another began. Such may be the troubles of the best of God’s saints, but in Isaiah 43:2-3, God has promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” [2]
In Psalm 124:2-4, 6-8, David wrote, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us. Then, the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul.” “Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
In 1 Peter 1:3-7, Peter blesses the Lord for birthing us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ into an inheritance that is reserved in heaven for us. We rejoice because we are kept by the power of God “though now for a little while, if need be,” we “have been grieved by various trials.” Why? The answer is “that the genuineness of” our “faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” When Jesus Christ appears, we will “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,” because we will receive the end of our faith—the salvation of our souls.
Our troubles will certainly end well. They are fire and water, but God gets us through them. [3] The waters are an inlet to the garden of the Lord. Our heavenly Vinedresser pruned us to make us more fruitful than ever before.
“I will go into Your house with burnt offerings. I will pay You my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.” Psalm 66:13-14
David did not forget what he promised to do for God when he was in trouble. He was grateful to the Lord and wanted to express his gratitude both with words and deeds.
“I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, with the sweet aroma of rams. I will offer bulls with goats. Selah!” Psalm 66:15
David praised the Lord with generous offerings such as rams, bulls and goats. Not all people had the means or zeal to offer these sacrifices in praise of God, but David was so blessed.
In Luke 12:48, Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” David was happy to be able and willing to give back more to the Lord due to his many blessings.
“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me. He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!” Psalm 66:16-20
David speaks to those who fear God. He wants to strengthen our confidence in God. What did the Lord Jesus Christ do for his soul? The Lord listened to the cry of his mouth. The Lord received the praises of David’s tongue. David’s heavenly Father attended the voice of his prayer as though at a wonderful event.
David had offered generous sacrifices to the Lord as God had ordained at that time for sinners to do. He recognized his need for the shedding of blood for the remission of his sin. In Hebrews 9:22, Paul wrote, “And according to the Law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” David neither denied nor disregarded his need for blood to wash away his sin. Nor should we! David said to those who fear the Lord, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me.” He sought the Lord’s forgiveness, then, he prayed and God listened to him.
What sacrifice do we bring to God when we pray? We offer to Him a sacrifice that is much more precious than the blood of rams, bulls and goats. We come to the Father in the Name of Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the world’s sin and ours. And what did Jesus say would happen if we asked for help in His Name? In John 14:13-14, He said, “Whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”
What do I want to ask our Lord for after reading Psalm 66? “In Your Name, Lord Jesus, I ask for a heart of worship toward You, and for the heritage of other lovers and worshippers of You.”
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Praises Waiting in Line – Psalm 65
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion. And to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.” Psalm 65:1-2
The imagery I see is of David telling the Heavenly Father that he has the people of Jerusalem singing praises to Him. David has them worshipping the Lord together. They are grateful for all God has done for them. They want to do what they vowed to do for God.
Psalm 134:1-2 says, “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord.”
Matthew Henry wrote, “The Levites by night stood in the house of the Lord, ready to sing their songs of praise at the hour appointed, and thus their praise waited for Him.”
God let David know that all flesh will come before Him. In Revelation 7:9-10, God gave to John a vision of a great multitude which “no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” People from every land and generation were there.
Even the “goats” whom the Shepherd separates from the sheep, shall have their moment to appear before Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10, “At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.”
David appreciates the Father for hearing his prayers. In Ephesians 3:20, Paul wrote that the Lord “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” In Hebrews 4:16, Paul urged us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
“Iniquities prevail against me. As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.” Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail as long as we try to balance them with any righteousness of our own.
In Psalm 49:6-8, David wrote, “Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of their souls is costly.”
David wrote that God would provide atonement for our transgressions. He did! Ephesians 1:7 says that in Christ we “have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” 1 John 1:7 says that “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 says that “you were redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” The only atoning work that God honors is His Son’s. We must bring our sins to Jesus and ask that He apply His atoning blood to them to wash them away.
“Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.” Psalm 65:4
“Blessed is the man” that God chooses to approach Him. In John 6:44, Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” In Hebrews 4:7, Paul wrote, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” It is a great blessing when Jesus turns to you and says, “Come, follow Me.”
At this point, we don’t have the privilege of physically dwelling in God’s courts or in His house. However, God does bless us with His presence by His Spirit and Word. It is God’s presence that makes His courts and house so wonderful. David experienced the presence of the Lord and we can as well as we worship and serve Him.
“By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas.” Psalm 65:5
God takes care of His people. He is the confidence of saints all over the world. God gives us His Spirit and Word to remain online with us. Before there were telephones or internet, God was already able to maintain open line communications with any person at anytime and anywhere.
“You who established the mountains by His strength, being clothed with power.” Psalm 65:6
God’s strength established the mountains. Have you ever stood at the foot of a mountain and looked up its rocky side? Tons and tons of rock sustain its towering peak. Yet, Jesus said that by something as invisible and light weight as faith, God would cast that mountain down before us.
“You who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples.” Psalm 65:7
In Psalm 2, the nations are raging. Kings and rulers are against the Lord and His anointed. God is in heaven laughing. His Son will always be above them. God commands them to be wise and be instructed. “Serve the Lord with fear!” “Kiss the Son, lest you perish in the way.”
God stills sounds of stormy citizens as easy as He stills stormy seas. In Mark 4:37-39, a great wind storm was blowing on the Sea of Galilee. The boat in which the disciples were traveling began to fill with water. It appeared to the disciples that they were going to die, but then, Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “’Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
“They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs. You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.” Psalm 65:8
God’s miraculous signs are not confined to people of Israel. Throughout the earth, God Almighty displays His power through whirlwinds, lightning, thunder, hail, floods, famines, earthquakes, fires and pestilences. Those who do not know Him fear these destructive signs. But then, God also makes mornings and evenings in which people rejoice due to the beauty of them. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus said, “Your Father in heaven makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew Henry wrote, “It is hard to say which is more welcome to us, the light of the morning, which befriends the business of the day, or the shadows of the evening, which befriend the repose of the night. Does the watchman wait for the morning? So does the hireling earnestly desire the shadow.” [1]
“You visit the earth and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.” Psalm 65:9-10
In Acts 14:17, Paul told Lystrans (people of modern day Türkiye), that God “did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” In John 15:1, Jesus compared His Father to a vinedresser who cares for those who are in His vineyard. His goal is to help us live and produce good fruit.
“Our hearts are dry and barren unless God himself be as the dew to us and water us.” The rivers of God’s blessings enrich the earth. “We might live well enough without silver and gold, but not without corn and grass.” [2]
“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks. The valleys also are covered with grain. They shout for joy, they also sing.” Psalm 65:11-13
As one’s head is honored by wearing a golden crown, so a land is honored when it is abundantly watered by God. [3] Flocks can gather in it and enjoy green pastures. The hills rejoice on every side because streams of water flow down from them and water the crops that people are growing. The hills and fields are adorned with trees and flowers, as well as with singing birds and playful bunnies hopping. The valleys are shouting and singing with joy of the Lord.
It is easy to take God’s rich blessings for granted if you have never been without them. Once, I shared a room at a camp with a minister from Kenya. When he took a shower, he shut the water off in between soaping and rinsing. I could hear what he was doing from outside the bathroom. When I told him that he did not need to do that, he explained to me that due to drought in Kenya, he often had to walk for miles to get water. Water was considered very precious. He was in the practice of not wasting it. He told me that the ground where he lived was like chocolate powder because the land was so dry. When he saw the trees that surrounded the park, he said to me that they would all be turned into fuel for fire in his land. The people where he lived had to rely on wood for cooking. Cutting down trees and turning the wood into kindling was also a way to make money for survival.
In Psalm 65:1, David wrote, “Praise is awaiting You, O God.” May our praises unto God flourish and become abundant, so much so, that they are like people waiting patiently in line to be the next one to say to Him, “Praise the Lord!”
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
The imagery I see is of David telling the Heavenly Father that he has the people of Jerusalem singing praises to Him. David has them worshipping the Lord together. They are grateful for all God has done for them. They want to do what they vowed to do for God.
Psalm 134:1-2 says, “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord.”
Matthew Henry wrote, “The Levites by night stood in the house of the Lord, ready to sing their songs of praise at the hour appointed, and thus their praise waited for Him.”
God let David know that all flesh will come before Him. In Revelation 7:9-10, God gave to John a vision of a great multitude which “no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” People from every land and generation were there.
Even the “goats” whom the Shepherd separates from the sheep, shall have their moment to appear before Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10, “At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.”
David appreciates the Father for hearing his prayers. In Ephesians 3:20, Paul wrote that the Lord “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” In Hebrews 4:16, Paul urged us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
“Iniquities prevail against me. As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.” Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail as long as we try to balance them with any righteousness of our own.
In Psalm 49:6-8, David wrote, “Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of their souls is costly.”
David wrote that God would provide atonement for our transgressions. He did! Ephesians 1:7 says that in Christ we “have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” 1 John 1:7 says that “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 says that “you were redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” The only atoning work that God honors is His Son’s. We must bring our sins to Jesus and ask that He apply His atoning blood to them to wash them away.
“Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.” Psalm 65:4
“Blessed is the man” that God chooses to approach Him. In John 6:44, Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” In Hebrews 4:7, Paul wrote, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” It is a great blessing when Jesus turns to you and says, “Come, follow Me.”
At this point, we don’t have the privilege of physically dwelling in God’s courts or in His house. However, God does bless us with His presence by His Spirit and Word. It is God’s presence that makes His courts and house so wonderful. David experienced the presence of the Lord and we can as well as we worship and serve Him.
“By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas.” Psalm 65:5
God takes care of His people. He is the confidence of saints all over the world. God gives us His Spirit and Word to remain online with us. Before there were telephones or internet, God was already able to maintain open line communications with any person at anytime and anywhere.
“You who established the mountains by His strength, being clothed with power.” Psalm 65:6
God’s strength established the mountains. Have you ever stood at the foot of a mountain and looked up its rocky side? Tons and tons of rock sustain its towering peak. Yet, Jesus said that by something as invisible and light weight as faith, God would cast that mountain down before us.
“You who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples.” Psalm 65:7
In Psalm 2, the nations are raging. Kings and rulers are against the Lord and His anointed. God is in heaven laughing. His Son will always be above them. God commands them to be wise and be instructed. “Serve the Lord with fear!” “Kiss the Son, lest you perish in the way.”
God stills sounds of stormy citizens as easy as He stills stormy seas. In Mark 4:37-39, a great wind storm was blowing on the Sea of Galilee. The boat in which the disciples were traveling began to fill with water. It appeared to the disciples that they were going to die, but then, Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “’Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
“They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs. You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.” Psalm 65:8
God’s miraculous signs are not confined to people of Israel. Throughout the earth, God Almighty displays His power through whirlwinds, lightning, thunder, hail, floods, famines, earthquakes, fires and pestilences. Those who do not know Him fear these destructive signs. But then, God also makes mornings and evenings in which people rejoice due to the beauty of them. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus said, “Your Father in heaven makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew Henry wrote, “It is hard to say which is more welcome to us, the light of the morning, which befriends the business of the day, or the shadows of the evening, which befriend the repose of the night. Does the watchman wait for the morning? So does the hireling earnestly desire the shadow.” [1]
“You visit the earth and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.” Psalm 65:9-10
In Acts 14:17, Paul told Lystrans (people of modern day Türkiye), that God “did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” In John 15:1, Jesus compared His Father to a vinedresser who cares for those who are in His vineyard. His goal is to help us live and produce good fruit.
“Our hearts are dry and barren unless God himself be as the dew to us and water us.” The rivers of God’s blessings enrich the earth. “We might live well enough without silver and gold, but not without corn and grass.” [2]
“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks. The valleys also are covered with grain. They shout for joy, they also sing.” Psalm 65:11-13
As one’s head is honored by wearing a golden crown, so a land is honored when it is abundantly watered by God. [3] Flocks can gather in it and enjoy green pastures. The hills rejoice on every side because streams of water flow down from them and water the crops that people are growing. The hills and fields are adorned with trees and flowers, as well as with singing birds and playful bunnies hopping. The valleys are shouting and singing with joy of the Lord.
It is easy to take God’s rich blessings for granted if you have never been without them. Once, I shared a room at a camp with a minister from Kenya. When he took a shower, he shut the water off in between soaping and rinsing. I could hear what he was doing from outside the bathroom. When I told him that he did not need to do that, he explained to me that due to drought in Kenya, he often had to walk for miles to get water. Water was considered very precious. He was in the practice of not wasting it. He told me that the ground where he lived was like chocolate powder because the land was so dry. When he saw the trees that surrounded the park, he said to me that they would all be turned into fuel for fire in his land. The people where he lived had to rely on wood for cooking. Cutting down trees and turning the wood into kindling was also a way to make money for survival.
In Psalm 65:1, David wrote, “Praise is awaiting You, O God.” May our praises unto God flourish and become abundant, so much so, that they are like people waiting patiently in line to be the next one to say to Him, “Praise the Lord!”
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Do You also Want to Go Away – Psalm 64
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.” Psalm 64:1
Fear is the opposite of faith. The devil wants to place “worst-case scenario” images in our minds to paralyze us with fear. He doesn’t want us to testify for Jesus Christ. He uses fear of failure to mute us. Paul urged us to rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome our fears. In 2 Timothy 1:7, he wrote, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In 1 John 4:4, the apostle John wrote, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” God’s Word to us in Joshua 1:9 is, “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless. Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. They encourage themselves in an evil matter. They talk of laying snares secretly. They say, ‘Who will see them?’ They devise iniquities: ‘We have perfected a shrewd scheme.’ Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.” Psalm 64:2-6
When our Heavenly Father grants us His servants favor with people, the servants of Satan are angry. They begin to fire off words like marksmen shooting arrows to pierce our hearts. As if the arrows were not enough, they will set traps for us as well. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
In Matthew 26:59-61, “The chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ They mischaracterized what Jesus had said. Jesus had spoken of the destruction and resurrection of His body. They falsely accused Jesus of being a terrorist who planned to destroy the temple which they loved.
In Acts 10:38, Peter said of Jesus, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Jesus made the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the dead to resurrect and the poor to hear good news, but even so, the religious leaders refused to believe in Him.
In 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, Paul wrote that he and his fellow apostles were treated as spectacles by the world and as fools for Christ. They experienced hunger and thirst, poor clothing, beatings and homelessness. They worked with their own hands. Being reviled, they blessed! Being defamed, they responded with kindness. In Galatians 6:17, Paul shared that he bore in his “body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
In 1 Peter 2:21-23, Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth,’ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
“But God shall shoot at them with an arrow. Suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue. All who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider His doing.” Psalm 64:7-9
Cruel people shot at David secretly and suddenly, to wound him. Thus, God prepared His arrows for them. “God’s arrows will hit surer, and fly swifter, and pierce deeper, than theirs do or can. God also has an arrow named death.” [1]
Some think that the Lord’s prophetic word to David in Psalm 64:7-9 was fulfilled in 1 Samuel 31:7... “When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.”
Saul’s criminal accomplices abandoned him when he died.
In a similar fashion, the 250 people who had supported Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in their rebellion against Moses fled when they realized God was about to bring them down.
In Numbers 16:1-7, Korah with Dathan and Abiram rose up before Moses with 250 others. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
In Numbers 16:4, when Moses heard their words, he fell on his face before the Lord.
On the next day, in Numbers 16:26-30, Moses said to the people, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” So they got away from around their tents. And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”
Then, in Numbers 16:31-33, “the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit. The earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.”
When David’s son Absalom rebelled against him, at first David retreated from him. He did not want to lose his son. But ultimately, the rebellion had to be put down. Absalom was killed against David’s wishes by Joab the commander of Israel’s army. David wept bitterly.
Sometimes followers depart from their leaders. Departures hurt! In John 6:32-66, after Jesus taught that people needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life, many of His disciples departed and never returned to Him. In John 6:67-69, when Jesus asked His twelve disciples if they too would depart from Him, Peter answered on behalf all of them saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Just as physical food sustains the body, ‘eating’ Jesus’ flesh and ‘drinking’ His blood means taking the reality of His death on the cross—His body broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins—and internalizing it by faith. To consume Him is to make His life part of your own. It is to allow His teachings and Spirit to abide within you. In John 6:63, Jesus says, ‘The flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,’ which many interpret as a direct hint that the eating is spiritual, not physical.” [2]
Later, Jesus instituted Holy Communion with His disciples. In that moment, Jesus announced a new covenant in which eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine was to eat His flesh and drink His blood. We take Holy Communion to remember that our Savior Jesus Christ gave His body and blood on the cross for our forgiveness and salvation. And as we eat the communion bread and drink from the communion cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns. [3]
In John 17:20-23, before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father to keep His disciples as one. He prayed, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
Globally, people have varying views about politics, morality, and Bible interpretation. Only God, the Holy Spirit can bring us into one accord and keep us in one accord with Christ.
In Philippians 2:3, Paul urged Christians “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
In 1 Peter 3:8, Peter urged Christians to “be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”
According to 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, love is patient and kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself. Love is not puffed up. Love does not behave rudely. Love does not seek its own. Love is not provoked. Love thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
“The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” Psalm 64:7-10
What does the Lord’s righteousness do for us? His righteousness makes us glad. His righteousness helps us to trust in Him. He doesn’t betray us when we believe in Him. His uprightness in our hearts, helps us to bring Him glory which yields for us great joy!
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] DesirngGod.org
[3] See In Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26
Fear is the opposite of faith. The devil wants to place “worst-case scenario” images in our minds to paralyze us with fear. He doesn’t want us to testify for Jesus Christ. He uses fear of failure to mute us. Paul urged us to rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome our fears. In 2 Timothy 1:7, he wrote, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In 1 John 4:4, the apostle John wrote, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” God’s Word to us in Joshua 1:9 is, “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless. Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. They encourage themselves in an evil matter. They talk of laying snares secretly. They say, ‘Who will see them?’ They devise iniquities: ‘We have perfected a shrewd scheme.’ Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.” Psalm 64:2-6
When our Heavenly Father grants us His servants favor with people, the servants of Satan are angry. They begin to fire off words like marksmen shooting arrows to pierce our hearts. As if the arrows were not enough, they will set traps for us as well. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
In Matthew 26:59-61, “The chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ They mischaracterized what Jesus had said. Jesus had spoken of the destruction and resurrection of His body. They falsely accused Jesus of being a terrorist who planned to destroy the temple which they loved.
In Acts 10:38, Peter said of Jesus, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Jesus made the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the dead to resurrect and the poor to hear good news, but even so, the religious leaders refused to believe in Him.
In 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, Paul wrote that he and his fellow apostles were treated as spectacles by the world and as fools for Christ. They experienced hunger and thirst, poor clothing, beatings and homelessness. They worked with their own hands. Being reviled, they blessed! Being defamed, they responded with kindness. In Galatians 6:17, Paul shared that he bore in his “body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
In 1 Peter 2:21-23, Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth,’ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
“But God shall shoot at them with an arrow. Suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue. All who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider His doing.” Psalm 64:7-9
Cruel people shot at David secretly and suddenly, to wound him. Thus, God prepared His arrows for them. “God’s arrows will hit surer, and fly swifter, and pierce deeper, than theirs do or can. God also has an arrow named death.” [1]
Some think that the Lord’s prophetic word to David in Psalm 64:7-9 was fulfilled in 1 Samuel 31:7... “When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.”
Saul’s criminal accomplices abandoned him when he died.
In a similar fashion, the 250 people who had supported Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in their rebellion against Moses fled when they realized God was about to bring them down.
In Numbers 16:1-7, Korah with Dathan and Abiram rose up before Moses with 250 others. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
In Numbers 16:4, when Moses heard their words, he fell on his face before the Lord.
On the next day, in Numbers 16:26-30, Moses said to the people, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” So they got away from around their tents. And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”
Then, in Numbers 16:31-33, “the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit. The earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.”
When David’s son Absalom rebelled against him, at first David retreated from him. He did not want to lose his son. But ultimately, the rebellion had to be put down. Absalom was killed against David’s wishes by Joab the commander of Israel’s army. David wept bitterly.
Sometimes followers depart from their leaders. Departures hurt! In John 6:32-66, after Jesus taught that people needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life, many of His disciples departed and never returned to Him. In John 6:67-69, when Jesus asked His twelve disciples if they too would depart from Him, Peter answered on behalf all of them saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Just as physical food sustains the body, ‘eating’ Jesus’ flesh and ‘drinking’ His blood means taking the reality of His death on the cross—His body broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins—and internalizing it by faith. To consume Him is to make His life part of your own. It is to allow His teachings and Spirit to abide within you. In John 6:63, Jesus says, ‘The flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,’ which many interpret as a direct hint that the eating is spiritual, not physical.” [2]
Later, Jesus instituted Holy Communion with His disciples. In that moment, Jesus announced a new covenant in which eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine was to eat His flesh and drink His blood. We take Holy Communion to remember that our Savior Jesus Christ gave His body and blood on the cross for our forgiveness and salvation. And as we eat the communion bread and drink from the communion cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns. [3]
In John 17:20-23, before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father to keep His disciples as one. He prayed, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
Globally, people have varying views about politics, morality, and Bible interpretation. Only God, the Holy Spirit can bring us into one accord and keep us in one accord with Christ.
In Philippians 2:3, Paul urged Christians “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
In 1 Peter 3:8, Peter urged Christians to “be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”
According to 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, love is patient and kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself. Love is not puffed up. Love does not behave rudely. Love does not seek its own. Love is not provoked. Love thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
“The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” Psalm 64:7-10
What does the Lord’s righteousness do for us? His righteousness makes us glad. His righteousness helps us to trust in Him. He doesn’t betray us when we believe in Him. His uprightness in our hearts, helps us to bring Him glory which yields for us great joy!
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] DesirngGod.org
[3] See In Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26
Friday, May 8, 2026
God Works Wonders in Wildernesses – Psalm 63
“A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.” Psalm 63:1
In 1 Samuel 22:5, David was in the forest of Hareth. In 1 Samuel 23:15, he was in the wilderness of Ziph. He likely penned Psalm 63 during one of these two wilderness experiences.
God works wonders in wildernesses! In Genesis, God turned the earth from formless, empty, and dark into a paradise. In Numbers, mighty miracles occurred in a wilderness. In 1 Kings, Elijah experienced miracles while he was in a wilderness. Ezekiel, Daniel and John received visions from God while exiled from their homelands. In the Gospels, John the Baptist preached to and baptized many people in a wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days and overcame the devil’s temptations in a wilderness. Paul wrote five of his thirteen books of the Bible from prison.
In 1982, two young entrepreneurs, Mike Coleman and Ed Lindquist had entered it seemed into “a wilderness.” Their Christian magazine called “New Wine” had run its course. They needed to close it down, but what would they do next?
Previously, Coleman and Lindquist had received a recording of Grace Outreach Center’s worship music. Being impressed with it, Coleman reached out to Grace Outreach Center. He asked if they could advertise the recording in the last edition of their magazine. Their answer was yes.
The response to the advertisement for the recording was far more than Coleman expected. Coleman, Lindquist and producer Tom Brooks met together to discuss the future. Although the magazine had run its course, Coleman sensed that God was doing a new thing through live worship recordings. The Holy Spirit led Coleman to offer “New Wine” magazine subscribers a new tape of live worship music captured from churches all around America every eight weeks. Subscribers could listen to the tape for free and return it for a refund if they didn’t like the recording. The response was incredible. Thus, the “Hosanna Music” label was formed.
Later, Coleman and Lindquist changed the label from “Hosanna Music” to “Integrity Hosanna.”
“Don Moen, Robin Mark, Darlene Zschech/Hillsong, Paul Baloche, Marty Nystrom, Kent Henry, Randy Rothwell, Graham Kendrick, Bob Fitts and Ron Kenoly are some of the well-known worship leaders on Integrity Hosanna’s recordings. Their music became a primary source for many churches to discover new songs of worship including favorites like, ‘Give Thanks,’ ‘Shout to the Lord,’ ‘Ancient of Days,’ ‘More Precious Than Silver,’ ‘God will Make A Way,’ ‘Days of Elijah’ and ‘Open the Eyes of My Heart,’ many of which are still sung in churches around the globe today.” [1]
God turned the wilderness of Coleman and Lindquist into a fountain of blessing. As Psalm 84:5-7 says, “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs. The autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”
“O God, You are my God. Early will I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.” Psalm 63:1-2
God was still David’s God in a wilderness. When his soul and flesh were thirsty, David turned to God to quench his thirst. He did not try to fill the void with something other than God. He took advantage of the loneliness and lack of “fun” activities to open wide his heart and mind to God. He didn’t wait until many days passed to do so. He sought the Lord early. He did not waste a moment of his time to be alone with God. Instead of looking down, he looked up to God’s holy place and envisioned Him in His power and glory.
While in the wilderness, the Lord inspired David to write Psalm 63.
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live. I will lift up my hands in Your Name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.” Psalm 63:3-6
Have you experienced God’s lovingkindness being better than life? I don’t want to be disingenuous. There are lots of things that I enjoy about life. I like eating delicious food. I like watching an inspirational movie. I like residing in a home that meets my needs. I like doing fun activities with my wife. So, how can I say that God’s lovingkindness is better than life? Well, amidst everything else, I most treasure the love that God puts in my heart for Him and for those around me. It is God’s love in my heart... genuine love which is better than life.
My most valued moments have been when God’s love flowed in and through me to others.
The Spirit of God transformed David’s desperate petitions into jubilant praises. Psalm 105:3 says, “Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord.” David was in a wilderness, yet his heart was greatly enlarged as he praised the Lord!
When God filled David with His love, David’s lips began to praise the Lord. His hands began to raise because he wanted to blessed the Name of the Lord. God’s presence satisfied David’s soul where all other substitutes failed to do so. After being filled with love for God, David even thought about the Lord when he woke up at night.
In Psalm 16:7, David wrote, “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me.” In Psalm 119:62, David wrote, “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”
“Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You. Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:7-8
David’s joy of being under the shadow of God’s wings, alludes either to the wings of the cherubim stretched out over the Ark of the Covenant, between which God is said to dwell, or to the wings of a bird, under which the helpless young ones have shelter. In Exodus 19:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11, the Lord describes Himself as an eagle carrying His people and protecting them with His wings. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus used the imagery of a humble hen wanting to protect her young under her wings to express His heart to protect His people from the coming invasion of their city.
“God’s right hand upheld me” is an allusion to Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.
“My soul follows close behind You.” In Philippians 3:14, while in prison, Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” “To press hard after God is to follow Him closely, as those that are afraid of losing sight of Him, and to follow Him swiftly, as those that long to be with Him.” [2]
“But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword. They shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by Him shall glory, but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.” Psalm 63:9-11
King Saul sought to destroy David but fell by his own sword. David did not have to do it. Death eventually swallows up those who persecute God’s anointed ones. In Luke 19:27, Jesus said, “Those enemies of Mine who did not want Me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of Me.” The mouths of those who speak lies against Christ shall be stopped.
Death seeks to destroy all people. Jesus Christ is our Savior from death. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Paul wrote, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the “wilderness” of death becomes a portal to paradise. Praise the Lord!
[1] https://travisdoucette.com/2022/06/24/this-history-of-integritys-hosanna-music-with-tom-brooks/ (all my information about Integrity Hosanna was from Travis Doucette)
[2] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
In 1 Samuel 22:5, David was in the forest of Hareth. In 1 Samuel 23:15, he was in the wilderness of Ziph. He likely penned Psalm 63 during one of these two wilderness experiences.
God works wonders in wildernesses! In Genesis, God turned the earth from formless, empty, and dark into a paradise. In Numbers, mighty miracles occurred in a wilderness. In 1 Kings, Elijah experienced miracles while he was in a wilderness. Ezekiel, Daniel and John received visions from God while exiled from their homelands. In the Gospels, John the Baptist preached to and baptized many people in a wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days and overcame the devil’s temptations in a wilderness. Paul wrote five of his thirteen books of the Bible from prison.
In 1982, two young entrepreneurs, Mike Coleman and Ed Lindquist had entered it seemed into “a wilderness.” Their Christian magazine called “New Wine” had run its course. They needed to close it down, but what would they do next?
Previously, Coleman and Lindquist had received a recording of Grace Outreach Center’s worship music. Being impressed with it, Coleman reached out to Grace Outreach Center. He asked if they could advertise the recording in the last edition of their magazine. Their answer was yes.
The response to the advertisement for the recording was far more than Coleman expected. Coleman, Lindquist and producer Tom Brooks met together to discuss the future. Although the magazine had run its course, Coleman sensed that God was doing a new thing through live worship recordings. The Holy Spirit led Coleman to offer “New Wine” magazine subscribers a new tape of live worship music captured from churches all around America every eight weeks. Subscribers could listen to the tape for free and return it for a refund if they didn’t like the recording. The response was incredible. Thus, the “Hosanna Music” label was formed.
Later, Coleman and Lindquist changed the label from “Hosanna Music” to “Integrity Hosanna.”
“Don Moen, Robin Mark, Darlene Zschech/Hillsong, Paul Baloche, Marty Nystrom, Kent Henry, Randy Rothwell, Graham Kendrick, Bob Fitts and Ron Kenoly are some of the well-known worship leaders on Integrity Hosanna’s recordings. Their music became a primary source for many churches to discover new songs of worship including favorites like, ‘Give Thanks,’ ‘Shout to the Lord,’ ‘Ancient of Days,’ ‘More Precious Than Silver,’ ‘God will Make A Way,’ ‘Days of Elijah’ and ‘Open the Eyes of My Heart,’ many of which are still sung in churches around the globe today.” [1]
God turned the wilderness of Coleman and Lindquist into a fountain of blessing. As Psalm 84:5-7 says, “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs. The autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”
“O God, You are my God. Early will I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.” Psalm 63:1-2
God was still David’s God in a wilderness. When his soul and flesh were thirsty, David turned to God to quench his thirst. He did not try to fill the void with something other than God. He took advantage of the loneliness and lack of “fun” activities to open wide his heart and mind to God. He didn’t wait until many days passed to do so. He sought the Lord early. He did not waste a moment of his time to be alone with God. Instead of looking down, he looked up to God’s holy place and envisioned Him in His power and glory.
While in the wilderness, the Lord inspired David to write Psalm 63.
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live. I will lift up my hands in Your Name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.” Psalm 63:3-6
Have you experienced God’s lovingkindness being better than life? I don’t want to be disingenuous. There are lots of things that I enjoy about life. I like eating delicious food. I like watching an inspirational movie. I like residing in a home that meets my needs. I like doing fun activities with my wife. So, how can I say that God’s lovingkindness is better than life? Well, amidst everything else, I most treasure the love that God puts in my heart for Him and for those around me. It is God’s love in my heart... genuine love which is better than life.
My most valued moments have been when God’s love flowed in and through me to others.
The Spirit of God transformed David’s desperate petitions into jubilant praises. Psalm 105:3 says, “Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord.” David was in a wilderness, yet his heart was greatly enlarged as he praised the Lord!
When God filled David with His love, David’s lips began to praise the Lord. His hands began to raise because he wanted to blessed the Name of the Lord. God’s presence satisfied David’s soul where all other substitutes failed to do so. After being filled with love for God, David even thought about the Lord when he woke up at night.
In Psalm 16:7, David wrote, “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me.” In Psalm 119:62, David wrote, “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”
“Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You. Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:7-8
David’s joy of being under the shadow of God’s wings, alludes either to the wings of the cherubim stretched out over the Ark of the Covenant, between which God is said to dwell, or to the wings of a bird, under which the helpless young ones have shelter. In Exodus 19:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11, the Lord describes Himself as an eagle carrying His people and protecting them with His wings. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus used the imagery of a humble hen wanting to protect her young under her wings to express His heart to protect His people from the coming invasion of their city.
“God’s right hand upheld me” is an allusion to Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.
“My soul follows close behind You.” In Philippians 3:14, while in prison, Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” “To press hard after God is to follow Him closely, as those that are afraid of losing sight of Him, and to follow Him swiftly, as those that long to be with Him.” [2]
“But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword. They shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by Him shall glory, but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.” Psalm 63:9-11
King Saul sought to destroy David but fell by his own sword. David did not have to do it. Death eventually swallows up those who persecute God’s anointed ones. In Luke 19:27, Jesus said, “Those enemies of Mine who did not want Me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of Me.” The mouths of those who speak lies against Christ shall be stopped.
Death seeks to destroy all people. Jesus Christ is our Savior from death. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Paul wrote, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the “wilderness” of death becomes a portal to paradise. Praise the Lord!
Attached below is a link to an interview that Travis Doucette did with Mike Coleman on YouTube. His testimonies were helpful to me.
https://youtu.be/CBXzGTBcJa8?si=Y_lj5Myqh6H2jw33
[1] https://travisdoucette.com/2022/06/24/this-history-of-integritys-hosanna-music-with-tom-brooks/ (all my information about Integrity Hosanna was from Travis Doucette)
[2] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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