In Psalm 22, David saw Messiah pierced for our salvation. In Psalm 23, David saw Messiah as the Shepherd who guides His sheep to God’s house. In Psalm 24, David saw Messiah as the ascended one, the King of Glory, who opens the gates for us to enter into God’s glorious kingdom. Praise the Lord!
“A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” Psalm 24:1-2
We are not to think that the heavens only are the Lord’s. No, even the earth and all its fullness are His. Everything is His! Though His throne of glory is in the heavens, His kingdom rules over all, including over us who dwell on the earth. [1]
When God gave Adam dominion over the earth, Adam became the steward of God’s property. The rich mines in the belly of the earth, the fruits the land produces, and the creatures of the land, air and sea are all God’s. Wherever a child of God goes, he or she may be comforted in knowing that this is our Father’s world. [2]
We ourselves are God’s creations. God made our bodies and our souls. Genesis 2:7 says, “The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” God’s breath gave us life. In Ezekiel 18:4, God says, “All souls are mine.” Hebrews 12:9 says, “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” God is the designer and sustainer of our bodies and He is the Father of our spirits. He deserves our respect.
What’s more, after we sinned, Jesus paid the ransom for our souls with His blood. In 1 Peter 1:18-19, Peter wrote, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” In 1 Corinthians 6:20, Paul wrote, “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
The Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 24:1 twice in 1 Corinthians 10:26-28. He wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness. If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, ‘This was offered to idols,’ do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for ‘the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.’”
God created every food that is good for consumption, so you are free to eat whatever is set before you. However, if your host, an idolator, proudly says that the food had been offered to idols, don’t eat it for his or her sake. You do not want to condone their misplaced trust in an idol by eating it. Idolators gave credit to their idols instead of to the Lord for making the food edible.
Psalm 89:11 says, “The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness.” The Lord set the boundaries for the sea to keep it from covering the earth according to Psalms 104:9. It is God’s faithfulness that preserves the earth. Psalm 119:90 says, “Your faithfulness endures to all generations. You established the earth, and it abides.”
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah!” Psalm 24:3-6
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary says, “Hands, tongue, and heart are organs of action, speech, and feeling, which compose character.” “Compose character” means that their actions reveal what kind of people they are. The hill of the Lord and the holy place refers to the place where God’s glory dwells.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Who shall go to heaven, and have communion with God? A soul that knows and considers its origin and immortality. A soul that is unsatisfied to be without God, and therefore, seeks Him until He is found.
“What shall I do to rise to that hill, where the Lord dwells and reveals Himself, that I may be acquainted with Him, and to abide in that happy holy place where He meets His people and makes them holy and happy? What shall I do that I may be of those whom God owns for His peculiar people?” One recommendation is to maintain clean hands. The ceremonially unclean were not allowed to enter into the temple of the Lord. Their sin had to be atoned for first. [3]
They must have pure hearts. Faith in God is heart-work. It is not enough that our hands appear to be clean before men, we must have clean hearts before God. A pure heart is sincere and without guile before God. A pure heart desires to see God and be conformed to His image.
Pure hearts crave not the wealth of this world, the praise of men, or the delights of senses. They deal honestly both with God and people in their covenants and in their contracts. They do not make oaths deceitfully or break promises. [4]
They are a praying people. In every age there is a remnant of people who join themselves to God in earnest prayer. They ascend up the hill of the Lord. As they commune with God, they also enjoy communion with His saints. In Acts 9:26, as soon as Paul was converted, he joined himself to the disciples. [5]
“’Whom shall stand?’ Standing is the posture of ministers or servants.” [6] They stand in the gap where others neglect to do so. With hands lifted toward God, they make intercession for the souls of people, and for their physical and mental wellbeing.
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah!” Psalm 24:7-10
Forty days after Jesus finished His work on the cross and at the empty tomb, He was ready to ascend to heaven and enter His place at the right hand of the Father. Acts 1:9 says, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” The gates of heaven opened to the King of Glory. He conquered sin, death and the devil. He made a way for the Holy Spirit to fill and indwell those who believe in Him.
The everlasting doors had been shut, but our Redeemer, by His blood made atonement for our sin. He opened the everlasting doors for us.
Matthew 27:50-51 says, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom...” This tearing apart of the veil in the Holy of Holies symbolizes the removal of the barrier between a holy God and sinful people. When Jesus died on the cross, it was to pay the ransom for our souls.
Hebrews 6:19-20 says “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence [of God] behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus...” Hebrews 10:19-21 says that we have boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which He consecrated for us. The new and living way is through the veil, that is, His flesh. Jesus gave His flesh as a sacrifice so that we who believe in Him may enter the everlasting doors. Jesus opens the kingdom of heaven to all who believe in Him. In His hand, He holds the keys not only of hell and death, but of heaven and life.
In Romans 8:33-35, Paul wrote, “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Praise God! Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. He hasn’t stopped working for us. He hasn’t ceased to love us. He wants us to be where He is.
Thus, let us join with David in saying the first words of his next Psalm (Psalm 25:1)... “Unto You, O Lord! do I lift up my soul.” In His praying hands, His nailed scarred hands, our soul is safe.
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for readability)
[2] Ibid
[3] Matthew Henry Commentary (direct quote)
[4] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for readability)
[5] Ibid
[6] John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
21st Century Jeremiah is a fellowship of followers of Jesus Christ who seek to share the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus with integrity and accuracy as the prophet Jeremiah did.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Sunday, March 29, 2026
My Shepherd – Psalm 23
“A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:1-2
In John 10:14, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep and am known by My own.” In 1 Peter 5:4, Peter calls Jesus the Chief Shepherd. Jesus is the Shepherd of the shepherds. In 1 Peter 2:25, Peter calls Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
What does a shepherd do? Isaiah 40:11 says, “He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” The Good Shepherd feeds the souls of His sheep with healthy spiritual sustenance from the milk of God’s Word. As He carries us in His arm, we are close to His heart. When He leads us, He does not demean us or take us on an obstacle course as a Marine Corps sergeant does, but with gentleness He leads us. When battles come our way, He fights them for us.
“The word for “green” (דשׁא deshe) refers to the first shoots of vegetation from the earth - tender grass. The flock are in young and luxuriant grass, surrounded by abundance, and having satisfied their wants, lying down with calm contentment.” [1]
“He leads me beside the still waters (Hebrew, מי מנוכת - waters of rests, or refreshments). Quiet and gentle waters, running in small and shallow channels, which are opposed to great rivers, which both frighten the sheep with their great noise and expose them to being carried away by their swift and violent streams. Such is the difference between the gentle waters... and noisy torrents and overflowing floods of worldly and carnal enjoyments.” [2]
Spiritually speaking, the comfort and joy of the Holy Spirit are the still waters by which the saints are led. Psalm 46:4 says, “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” Revelation 7:17 says, “The Lamb, who is amid the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The goal of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is to bless us. Descending tears turn to leaping fountains of joy when He is leading us, and we are following Him.
Since God is his shepherd, David knows that he shall not want anything that is good for him.
According to Psalm 78:70-71, David was taken from following the ewes great with young. He knew by experience of the care and tender affection that they needed. God, in His grace, provided for them a skillful and faithful shepherd.
“If the Lord is my shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want anything that is really necessary and good for me.” “More is implied than is expressed, not only, I shall not want, but ‘I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I have not everything I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time.’” [3]
He makes me to lie down in green pastures. A green pasture to God’s sheep will seem a dry pasture to a man whose god is his belly. The ungodly deems “soul food” as no food. His soul is starving for God, but he keeps indulging his belly with sumptuous food thinking that it will pacify his hunger. It does not. Proverbs 15:17 says, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.”
God is love. We were made in His image to receive and to give love. Life without love is not life.
God’s Word is the green pasture for our soul. In His Word, we learn of His love for us. He gives us peace and joy in His promises. In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter compares God’s Word to pure milk that is good for babes to drink. God’s promises are never eaten gone and never parched, but always a green. God makes His saints to quietly lie down in them and be content.
Are you blessed with the green pasture of God’s Word? Don’t just pass through! Lie down! Abide and rest in His pasture. “It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed.” [4]
The Good Shepherd directs our affections into His love, and away from poisoned bitter waters.
“He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:3-4
“He restores my soul [when I wander].” No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep, so apt is it to go astray, and then so unapt to find the way back. When God shows them their error, gives them repentance, and brings them back to their duty again, He restores the soul. If He did not do so, they would wander endlessly and be undone. [5]
He leads me in the paths of righteousness. These are the paths in which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn aside out of them. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. It is the work of righteousness that is peace. We cannot walk in paths of righteousness unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. [6]
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, or rather, though I have received the sentence of death within myself, yet I will not fear. It is but the shadow of death. There is no substance to it.” [7]
Valleys are fruitful. God will bring forth good fruit from my valley experiences with Him. It is but a walk in this valley not a setting up of permanent residence there. I shall not be lost in it. I will come out on the other side of it better for having gone through it.
Paul wrote, “O death! where is thy sting?” Death cannot separate us from the love of God. Just as God brought you through illnesses, losses of loved ones and financial setbacks, His love will convey you from death in this world unto life in the next one. Hallelujah!
His rod and staff allude to the shepherd’s crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Leviticus 27:32), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. God knows those sheep that are His. He will drive the enemy away from them. [8]
Psalm 18:36 says, “You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:18-19 says, “The Lord was my support. He also brought me into a broad place. He delivered me because He delighted in me.” Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:5-6
“You prepare a table before me.” 2 Peter 1:3 says that God provides for us all things that pertain to life and godliness. David enjoyed a table spread, a cup filled, and a generous portion of food.
“My cup runs over.” “I have enough for myself and my friends too.”
“You anoint my head with oil.” Samuel anointed David king. Oil was also important to the preservation and health of one’s skin in the hot and dry desert.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Goodness and mercy shall be always ready to supply my needs. It shall follow me all my life long, even on into eternity.
In Lamentations 3:22-23, God says that His mercies are new every morning. His compassions fail not. Great is His faithfulness. As He sustained the Israelites with manna in the wilderness for a generation, so He can sustain us here on earth and forever in the eternal life that is to come.
“Goodness and mercy having followed me all the days of my life on this earth, when that is ended, He shall bring me to a better world, to dwell in His house forever. In our Father’s house, there are many mansions. With what I have I am pleased much; with what I hope for I am pleased more. All this, and heaven too!” [9]
In Luke 12:32, Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Psalm 18:35 says, “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great.”
David was determined to cleave to God. God was His prize. He considered knowing God superior to all other assets. God’s relationship with David helped him to be a great king of Isreal.
[1] Barnes Commentary
[2] Benson Commentary
[3] Ibid
[4] Matthew Henry Commentary
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for readability)
[6] Ibid
[7] Matthew Henry Commentary (direct quote)
[8] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for readability)
[9] Matthew Henry Commentary (direct quote)
In John 10:14, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep and am known by My own.” In 1 Peter 5:4, Peter calls Jesus the Chief Shepherd. Jesus is the Shepherd of the shepherds. In 1 Peter 2:25, Peter calls Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
What does a shepherd do? Isaiah 40:11 says, “He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” The Good Shepherd feeds the souls of His sheep with healthy spiritual sustenance from the milk of God’s Word. As He carries us in His arm, we are close to His heart. When He leads us, He does not demean us or take us on an obstacle course as a Marine Corps sergeant does, but with gentleness He leads us. When battles come our way, He fights them for us.
“The word for “green” (דשׁא deshe) refers to the first shoots of vegetation from the earth - tender grass. The flock are in young and luxuriant grass, surrounded by abundance, and having satisfied their wants, lying down with calm contentment.” [1]
“He leads me beside the still waters (Hebrew, מי מנוכת - waters of rests, or refreshments). Quiet and gentle waters, running in small and shallow channels, which are opposed to great rivers, which both frighten the sheep with their great noise and expose them to being carried away by their swift and violent streams. Such is the difference between the gentle waters... and noisy torrents and overflowing floods of worldly and carnal enjoyments.” [2]
Spiritually speaking, the comfort and joy of the Holy Spirit are the still waters by which the saints are led. Psalm 46:4 says, “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” Revelation 7:17 says, “The Lamb, who is amid the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The goal of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is to bless us. Descending tears turn to leaping fountains of joy when He is leading us, and we are following Him.
Since God is his shepherd, David knows that he shall not want anything that is good for him.
According to Psalm 78:70-71, David was taken from following the ewes great with young. He knew by experience of the care and tender affection that they needed. God, in His grace, provided for them a skillful and faithful shepherd.
“If the Lord is my shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want anything that is really necessary and good for me.” “More is implied than is expressed, not only, I shall not want, but ‘I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I have not everything I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time.’” [3]
He makes me to lie down in green pastures. A green pasture to God’s sheep will seem a dry pasture to a man whose god is his belly. The ungodly deems “soul food” as no food. His soul is starving for God, but he keeps indulging his belly with sumptuous food thinking that it will pacify his hunger. It does not. Proverbs 15:17 says, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.”
God is love. We were made in His image to receive and to give love. Life without love is not life.
God’s Word is the green pasture for our soul. In His Word, we learn of His love for us. He gives us peace and joy in His promises. In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter compares God’s Word to pure milk that is good for babes to drink. God’s promises are never eaten gone and never parched, but always a green. God makes His saints to quietly lie down in them and be content.
Are you blessed with the green pasture of God’s Word? Don’t just pass through! Lie down! Abide and rest in His pasture. “It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed.” [4]
The Good Shepherd directs our affections into His love, and away from poisoned bitter waters.
“He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:3-4
“He restores my soul [when I wander].” No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep, so apt is it to go astray, and then so unapt to find the way back. When God shows them their error, gives them repentance, and brings them back to their duty again, He restores the soul. If He did not do so, they would wander endlessly and be undone. [5]
He leads me in the paths of righteousness. These are the paths in which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn aside out of them. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. It is the work of righteousness that is peace. We cannot walk in paths of righteousness unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. [6]
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, or rather, though I have received the sentence of death within myself, yet I will not fear. It is but the shadow of death. There is no substance to it.” [7]
Valleys are fruitful. God will bring forth good fruit from my valley experiences with Him. It is but a walk in this valley not a setting up of permanent residence there. I shall not be lost in it. I will come out on the other side of it better for having gone through it.
Paul wrote, “O death! where is thy sting?” Death cannot separate us from the love of God. Just as God brought you through illnesses, losses of loved ones and financial setbacks, His love will convey you from death in this world unto life in the next one. Hallelujah!
His rod and staff allude to the shepherd’s crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Leviticus 27:32), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. God knows those sheep that are His. He will drive the enemy away from them. [8]
Psalm 18:36 says, “You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:18-19 says, “The Lord was my support. He also brought me into a broad place. He delivered me because He delighted in me.” Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:5-6
“You prepare a table before me.” 2 Peter 1:3 says that God provides for us all things that pertain to life and godliness. David enjoyed a table spread, a cup filled, and a generous portion of food.
“My cup runs over.” “I have enough for myself and my friends too.”
“You anoint my head with oil.” Samuel anointed David king. Oil was also important to the preservation and health of one’s skin in the hot and dry desert.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Goodness and mercy shall be always ready to supply my needs. It shall follow me all my life long, even on into eternity.
In Lamentations 3:22-23, God says that His mercies are new every morning. His compassions fail not. Great is His faithfulness. As He sustained the Israelites with manna in the wilderness for a generation, so He can sustain us here on earth and forever in the eternal life that is to come.
“Goodness and mercy having followed me all the days of my life on this earth, when that is ended, He shall bring me to a better world, to dwell in His house forever. In our Father’s house, there are many mansions. With what I have I am pleased much; with what I hope for I am pleased more. All this, and heaven too!” [9]
In Luke 12:32, Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Psalm 18:35 says, “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great.”
David was determined to cleave to God. God was His prize. He considered knowing God superior to all other assets. God’s relationship with David helped him to be a great king of Isreal.
[1] Barnes Commentary
[2] Benson Commentary
[3] Ibid
[4] Matthew Henry Commentary
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for readability)
[6] Ibid
[7] Matthew Henry Commentary (direct quote)
[8] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for readability)
[9] Matthew Henry Commentary (direct quote)
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Holy Week Described in 1044 BC – Psalm 22
“To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘The Deer of the Dawn.’ A Psalm of David. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season and am not silent.” Psalm 22:1-2
אַיֶּלֶת שַׁחַר (Deer Dawn) or Deer of the Dawn is likely the title of the musical composition to which this Psalm was played. Perhaps, that was a popular tune or a well-orchestrated musical composition of that day. Some see Christ as the deer of the dawn. He is as the swift deer upon the mountains of spices in Song of Songs 8:14. He is like the doe Naphtali who bears beautiful fawns in Genesis 49:21. Psalm 22:20-21 describes Him as needing saved from the power of the dog, saved from the lion’s mouth, and rescued from the horns of the wild oxen.
This Psalm may be applied to David, or any other child of God who is overwhelmed with grief and earnestly crying out for relief. When David felt forsaken by God, he asked God, “Why?”
אַיֶּלֶת שַׁחַר (Deer Dawn) or Deer of the Dawn is likely the title of the musical composition to which this Psalm was played. Perhaps, that was a popular tune or a well-orchestrated musical composition of that day. Some see Christ as the deer of the dawn. He is as the swift deer upon the mountains of spices in Song of Songs 8:14. He is like the doe Naphtali who bears beautiful fawns in Genesis 49:21. Psalm 22:20-21 describes Him as needing saved from the power of the dog, saved from the lion’s mouth, and rescued from the horns of the wild oxen.
This Psalm may be applied to David, or any other child of God who is overwhelmed with grief and earnestly crying out for relief. When David felt forsaken by God, he asked God, “Why?”
The devil’s attacks on Job left him wondering if God was against him. The devil likes to attack God’s servant and afterwards convince him that God did it. In Job 13:15-16, Job said of God, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him.” Even if God were against him, who else could Job turn to for help? Job preferred to tell God with words what he was experiencing and trust in God for salvation despite his negative circumstances.
Psalm 22:1 certainly applies to Christ. According to Matthew 27:46, Jesus spoke the exact words of Psalm 22:1, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” while He hung upon the cross. Christ cried earnestly to His Father, yet He forsook Him. God delivered Him into the hands of His murderers. Isaiah 53:10 prophesies, “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.” The sins of the world were placed on Christ. Thus, He also bore the wrath of God for these sins.
“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You. They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You and were delivered. They trusted in You and were not ashamed.” Psalm 22:3-5
Psalm 22:3-5 seems to speak of Palm Sunday. On that day, many of the people of Israel sang loud Hosanna’s to their Messiah King Jesus. They had waited for His arrival. Now, He was here just as He said He would be. Those, like Anna and Simeon, who believed they would see Messiah come during their lifetimes, did so. The Pharisees urged Jesus to silence those who sang His praises. In Luke 19:40, Jesus told them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Yes, it was proper and right for Israel to enthrone the Lord with their praises.
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” As He worked in the past with our forefathers of the faith, He is willing to work with us, if we will let Him. Are we willing to be a part of His ministry of healing broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken dreams? If so, we should trust God as our Christian forefathers did. In Acts 4:29-30, they prayed, “Lord... grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me. They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’ But You are He who took Me out of the womb. You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” Psalm 22:6-10
On Palm Sunday, there were praises for Jesus. On Good Friday, there were curses. He was treated as a worm. It was a great condescension that the Son of God became man; yet, as if it were too much, too great, to be a man, he becomes a worm, and no man. Isaiah 52:14 says He took upon him the form of a servant, and his visage was marred more than any man’s. If He had not made Himself a worm, He could not have been trampled upon as He was. The word signifies such a worm as was used in dyeing scarlet or purple, whence some make it an allusion to His bloody sufferings. He was reproached as a bad man, as a blasphemer, a sabbath-breaker, a wine-bibber, a false prophet, an enemy to Caesar, a confederate with the prince of the devils. [1]
Jesus was ridiculed as one that not only deceived others, but Himself too. Those that saw him hanging on the cross laughed him to scorn. David was sometimes taunted for his confidence in God, but in the sufferings of Christ this was literally and exactly fulfilled. Matthew 27:39 says that the people shook their heads at Jesus, fulfilling this Psalm. In Matthew 27:43, His enemies used the very words of Psalm 22, saying, “Let Him [God] deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus taught, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus now has a name that is exalted above every other name. When we suffer for His Name’s sake, may God grant us the grace to be exceedingly glad. We shall receive a great reward in heaven.
Twisted thinkers treated Christ cruelly, but amidst the pain, He remembered that God took Him from His mother’s womb to her breasts where He nursed comfortably. God had been with Him when He was born in the manger. God rescued Him from the massacre in Bethlehem. He sent Him to Egypt. Then, Hosea 11:1 says, “God called the Son whom He loved out of Egypt.” Then, at His baptism, in Matthew 3:17, His Father declared in a loud voice from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Yes, God abhorred the sin He bore but not Him.
To feel as a worm is to feel worthless. Yet, Jesus helped so many people! He opened blind eyes, made the lame to walk again, caused the mute to speak again, cleansed the lepers, rebuked evil spirits from harassing people, resurrected the dead and spoke the words of eternal life.
“Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.” Psalm 22:11-13
The strong bulls of Bashan represent the religious authorities. People of high rank, well-fed and fat! They gored Christ with bitter taunting. The dogs likely refer to the Roman soldiers who gambled for possession of His garment. The priests gaped opened their mouths at Christ like roaring lions. They were brave during His humiliation but feared afterwards when they were told that He had resurrected from the dead. Matthew 27:52-54 says, “The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” I imagine that the priests who shouted at Christ’s crucifixion, were less expressive after His resurrection.
“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws. You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Psalm 22:14-18
Jesus has been poured out like water, namely His blood is everywhere. His lips are dry. All His joints throb with pain. Care was taken that not one of His bones should be broken (John 19:36), but they were all out of joint by the violent stretching of His body upon the cross as upon a rack. [2]
His heart is melted. He is weak.
He said, “My tongue cleaves to My jaws.” This speechlessness fulfilled Isaiah 53:7-8, which says, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” His tongue likely clings to His jaws because of dry mouth. He is dehydrated from loosing so much blood. His body is beginning to shut down. [3]
“You have brought Me to the dust of death” means God’s just wrath on sin brought Jesus to the grave to taste death for every one of us. A sinless human life had to be sacrificed for all of the rest of us who have sinned. [4]
Crucifixion had never been used among the Jews, but here hundreds of years before it’s occurrence, the Holy Spirit inspired David to write, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” [5]
“I can count all my bones.” Jesus was not a glutton as some falsely accused Him. As He hung on the cross, the shapes of His bones could be seen under the thin layers of flesh on His body.
What did they do with the clothes of Jesus? They took them from Him and cast lots for them according to Psalms 22:18. This very circumstance was fulfilled exactly in John 19:23-24. While the Son of God died for their sins, the soldiers played games with the garment that should have covered His shame.
“But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me. O, My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword. My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your Name to My brethren. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You.” Psalm 22:19-22
Christ earnestly prayed that the cup of suffering might pass from Him. He fell upon the ground and prayed. God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then, the “dog,” Judas Iscariot, showed up and behind him the “lions” and “wild oxen.” They came at Jesus with swords and clubs. They awarded Him hatred for His love. But God had answered His Son’s prayer by giving Him the strength He needed to face His enemies in this hour. What a tremendous witness Christ was to His “brothers.” In John 19:8-9, Jesus told the armed mob of soldiers, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.” This saying fulfilled that which was written of Messiah, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
“You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. Nor has He hidden His face from Him, but when He cried to Him, He heard.” Psalm 22:23-24
Jesus was accused of being “a friend of sinners.” Peter said of Him, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” In 2 Corinthians 8:9. Paul wrote of Him, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” When a thief on a cross next to Him asked to be remembered by Him when He came into His kingdom, Jesus told him, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.”
“My praise shall be of You in the great assembly. I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied. Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!” Psalm 22:25-26
Due to the Holy Spirit’s work in David’s life, he wanted to praise the Lord in a great assembly. Jesus declared the Good News to great assemblies of people. The apostles preached to a great assembly of people in Acts 2:31. About 3,000 souls were converted that day! Evangelist Billy Graham preached to great assemblies of people. These great assemblies are possible thanks to what Jesus did for us on the cross and at the empty tomb, and because His Holy Spirit is at work in the world today.
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” Psalm 22:27-31
The Jews had long been the only professing people of God, but since Christ came, all people of the world have been welcomed into God’s family through faith in Christ. [6]
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, that is, be converted. Serious reflection is the first step toward conversion. We must consider and turn. The prodigal came first to himself, and then to his father.
Now, people from the nations have turned to the Lord. The day is fast approaching when Jesus will return. All who have loved His appearing will rejoice with exceedingly great joy!
Psalm 22 was likely written by King David around 1044 BC. The Psalm is a Messianic prophecy. [7] In Psalm 22 the Lord describes in detail many of the events that happened during Holy Week.
In the next Psalm, Psalm 23, David does not speak of God being far from him. He declares that the Lord is His shepherd. The Lord is with David in his darkest moments. The Lord brings him to dwell in the house of God forever. Psalm 23 is the outcome of Psalm 22.
At the cross and at the empty tomb, Jesus made a way for whoever believes in Him to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that you are too.
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for easy reading purposes)
Psalm 22:1 certainly applies to Christ. According to Matthew 27:46, Jesus spoke the exact words of Psalm 22:1, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” while He hung upon the cross. Christ cried earnestly to His Father, yet He forsook Him. God delivered Him into the hands of His murderers. Isaiah 53:10 prophesies, “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.” The sins of the world were placed on Christ. Thus, He also bore the wrath of God for these sins.
“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You. They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You and were delivered. They trusted in You and were not ashamed.” Psalm 22:3-5
Psalm 22:3-5 seems to speak of Palm Sunday. On that day, many of the people of Israel sang loud Hosanna’s to their Messiah King Jesus. They had waited for His arrival. Now, He was here just as He said He would be. Those, like Anna and Simeon, who believed they would see Messiah come during their lifetimes, did so. The Pharisees urged Jesus to silence those who sang His praises. In Luke 19:40, Jesus told them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Yes, it was proper and right for Israel to enthrone the Lord with their praises.
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” As He worked in the past with our forefathers of the faith, He is willing to work with us, if we will let Him. Are we willing to be a part of His ministry of healing broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken dreams? If so, we should trust God as our Christian forefathers did. In Acts 4:29-30, they prayed, “Lord... grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me. They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’ But You are He who took Me out of the womb. You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” Psalm 22:6-10
On Palm Sunday, there were praises for Jesus. On Good Friday, there were curses. He was treated as a worm. It was a great condescension that the Son of God became man; yet, as if it were too much, too great, to be a man, he becomes a worm, and no man. Isaiah 52:14 says He took upon him the form of a servant, and his visage was marred more than any man’s. If He had not made Himself a worm, He could not have been trampled upon as He was. The word signifies such a worm as was used in dyeing scarlet or purple, whence some make it an allusion to His bloody sufferings. He was reproached as a bad man, as a blasphemer, a sabbath-breaker, a wine-bibber, a false prophet, an enemy to Caesar, a confederate with the prince of the devils. [1]
Jesus was ridiculed as one that not only deceived others, but Himself too. Those that saw him hanging on the cross laughed him to scorn. David was sometimes taunted for his confidence in God, but in the sufferings of Christ this was literally and exactly fulfilled. Matthew 27:39 says that the people shook their heads at Jesus, fulfilling this Psalm. In Matthew 27:43, His enemies used the very words of Psalm 22, saying, “Let Him [God] deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus taught, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus now has a name that is exalted above every other name. When we suffer for His Name’s sake, may God grant us the grace to be exceedingly glad. We shall receive a great reward in heaven.
Twisted thinkers treated Christ cruelly, but amidst the pain, He remembered that God took Him from His mother’s womb to her breasts where He nursed comfortably. God had been with Him when He was born in the manger. God rescued Him from the massacre in Bethlehem. He sent Him to Egypt. Then, Hosea 11:1 says, “God called the Son whom He loved out of Egypt.” Then, at His baptism, in Matthew 3:17, His Father declared in a loud voice from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Yes, God abhorred the sin He bore but not Him.
To feel as a worm is to feel worthless. Yet, Jesus helped so many people! He opened blind eyes, made the lame to walk again, caused the mute to speak again, cleansed the lepers, rebuked evil spirits from harassing people, resurrected the dead and spoke the words of eternal life.
“Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.” Psalm 22:11-13
The strong bulls of Bashan represent the religious authorities. People of high rank, well-fed and fat! They gored Christ with bitter taunting. The dogs likely refer to the Roman soldiers who gambled for possession of His garment. The priests gaped opened their mouths at Christ like roaring lions. They were brave during His humiliation but feared afterwards when they were told that He had resurrected from the dead. Matthew 27:52-54 says, “The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” I imagine that the priests who shouted at Christ’s crucifixion, were less expressive after His resurrection.
“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws. You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Psalm 22:14-18
Jesus has been poured out like water, namely His blood is everywhere. His lips are dry. All His joints throb with pain. Care was taken that not one of His bones should be broken (John 19:36), but they were all out of joint by the violent stretching of His body upon the cross as upon a rack. [2]
His heart is melted. He is weak.
He said, “My tongue cleaves to My jaws.” This speechlessness fulfilled Isaiah 53:7-8, which says, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” His tongue likely clings to His jaws because of dry mouth. He is dehydrated from loosing so much blood. His body is beginning to shut down. [3]
“You have brought Me to the dust of death” means God’s just wrath on sin brought Jesus to the grave to taste death for every one of us. A sinless human life had to be sacrificed for all of the rest of us who have sinned. [4]
Crucifixion had never been used among the Jews, but here hundreds of years before it’s occurrence, the Holy Spirit inspired David to write, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” [5]
“I can count all my bones.” Jesus was not a glutton as some falsely accused Him. As He hung on the cross, the shapes of His bones could be seen under the thin layers of flesh on His body.
What did they do with the clothes of Jesus? They took them from Him and cast lots for them according to Psalms 22:18. This very circumstance was fulfilled exactly in John 19:23-24. While the Son of God died for their sins, the soldiers played games with the garment that should have covered His shame.
“But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me. O, My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword. My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your Name to My brethren. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You.” Psalm 22:19-22
Christ earnestly prayed that the cup of suffering might pass from Him. He fell upon the ground and prayed. God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then, the “dog,” Judas Iscariot, showed up and behind him the “lions” and “wild oxen.” They came at Jesus with swords and clubs. They awarded Him hatred for His love. But God had answered His Son’s prayer by giving Him the strength He needed to face His enemies in this hour. What a tremendous witness Christ was to His “brothers.” In John 19:8-9, Jesus told the armed mob of soldiers, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.” This saying fulfilled that which was written of Messiah, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
“You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. Nor has He hidden His face from Him, but when He cried to Him, He heard.” Psalm 22:23-24
Jesus was accused of being “a friend of sinners.” Peter said of Him, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” In 2 Corinthians 8:9. Paul wrote of Him, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” When a thief on a cross next to Him asked to be remembered by Him when He came into His kingdom, Jesus told him, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.”
“My praise shall be of You in the great assembly. I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied. Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!” Psalm 22:25-26
Due to the Holy Spirit’s work in David’s life, he wanted to praise the Lord in a great assembly. Jesus declared the Good News to great assemblies of people. The apostles preached to a great assembly of people in Acts 2:31. About 3,000 souls were converted that day! Evangelist Billy Graham preached to great assemblies of people. These great assemblies are possible thanks to what Jesus did for us on the cross and at the empty tomb, and because His Holy Spirit is at work in the world today.
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” Psalm 22:27-31
The Jews had long been the only professing people of God, but since Christ came, all people of the world have been welcomed into God’s family through faith in Christ. [6]
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, that is, be converted. Serious reflection is the first step toward conversion. We must consider and turn. The prodigal came first to himself, and then to his father.
Now, people from the nations have turned to the Lord. The day is fast approaching when Jesus will return. All who have loved His appearing will rejoice with exceedingly great joy!
Psalm 22 was likely written by King David around 1044 BC. The Psalm is a Messianic prophecy. [7] In Psalm 22 the Lord describes in detail many of the events that happened during Holy Week.
In the next Psalm, Psalm 23, David does not speak of God being far from him. He declares that the Lord is His shepherd. The Lord is with David in his darkest moments. The Lord brings him to dwell in the house of God forever. Psalm 23 is the outcome of Psalm 22.
At the cross and at the empty tomb, Jesus made a way for whoever believes in Him to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that you are too.
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary (edited for easy reading purposes)
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid
Friday, March 27, 2026
A New King – Psalm 21
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah! For You meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation. Honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever. You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.” Psalm 21:1-7
Why does the king have joy in the Lord’s strength? The answer is easy. His job requires more of him that he has to give. God gives him free unmerited strength from above to manage the demands. Why does the king greatly rejoice in the Lord’s salvation? Because even the most conscientious king is going to make bad decisions from time to time or face a situation for which he has no solution. Our Lord bailed King David out of bad situations time and time again.
David had a shepherd’s heart. He wanted to see God’s people well shepherded. After Samuel anointed David to replace Saul as king, David endured perhaps as many as 10 years of being persecuted by Saul. More than once, Saul nearly killed him. His heart’s desire to be king of Israel was severely tested. Would God answer the request that was on his lips?
In 1 Samuel 18:6-11, the Lord reveals what sparked Saul’s desire to kill David. “When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of joy on timbrels. The women sang as they played, and said, ‘Saul has killed his 1,000’s, and David his 10,000’s.’ Then Saul became very angry. This saying did not please him. He said, ‘They have given David honor for 10,000’s, but for me only 1,000’s. Now what more can he have but to be king?’ And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on. [In fact...] The next day a bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul with power. He acted like a crazy man in his house, while David was playing the harp. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he threw the spear, thinking, ‘I will nail David to the wall.’ But David jumped out of his way twice.” Saul did everything to stop David from becoming the king after him, but all attempts failed because God had already anointed David to take his place.
In the story of David and Saul we have a parable of sort about humanity and Satan. Lucifer was once an angel of God according to Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:12-19, but he became arrogant and led a rebellion in heaven against God. Revelation 12:7-9 indicate that Satan had a group of angels on his side. God’s angel Michael, defeated Lucifer and his angels, and cast them down to earth. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” How is humanity connected to all of this? In Genesis 1:26-28, God gave the earth to Adam and by extension all of us who are Adam’s offspring. The devil does not want to be displaced.
The devil hates humanity for various reasons. First of all, we are made in the image of God which he lost due to his rebellion. Secondly, he and his angels were cast down to earth, but then, God gave to Adam and his offspring dominion over the earth. Thus, as Saul was outraged that God anointed David to replace him, so the devil is outraged that God has ordained humankind to replace him as rulers of this world.
Who did Jesus say would inherit the earth? In Matthew 5:5, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Those, like David, who entrust their lives to the Lordship, guidance and protection of God shall overcome the devil. Those who are anointed and led by God’s Holy Spirit as David was.
But we won’t inherit this dying and defiled earth. No, the Lord has promised us a new heaven and a new earth. In 2 Peter 3:13, Peter wrote, “According to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” The devil and his angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire, and God’s people will inherit a new earth that is free from him and no longer cursed due to sin. See Revelation 20:9-21:5.
The Lord met David with the blessings of goodness. Like the time when David and his men were hungry. In 1 Samuel 25:18, God moved in the heart of a rich woman named Abigail to provide them 200 loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready to eat, five baskets of dry grain, 100 vines of dried grapes and 200 loaves of figs.
“You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.” According to 2 Samuel 12:30 and 1 Chronicles 20:2, after conquering the nation of Ammon, King David took the king of Ammon’s gold crown and had it placed on his head. The crown weighed a talent of gold which is about 75 pounds, and it was set with precious stones. David must have had a strong neck to bear that kind of weight on his head. A golden crown represents supreme authority, honor, and victory. [1] The Lord gave David the blessing of a golden crown.
My guess is that David seldom wore that 75 pound crown of gold. David was not like pagan kings who lord their positions over people. For example, once, in 2 Samuel 23:15-17, three of David’s mighty men heard him express a desire for a drink of water. The three men broke behind enemy lines, snatched some water and brought it to David. When he found out that they risked their lives to secure the water for him, he would not drink it. David said to the Lord, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” The Lord led David to highly respect the lives of the people around him.
“He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—length of days forever and ever.” The Lord preserved David in the wilderness. He kept him alive so that he and his sons after him could enjoy a very long reign over the land.
As Christians we believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for us so that we would not perish but have everlasting life. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
The Lord placed on David honor and majesty. The Lord made him exceedingly glad with His presence. David trusted in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he prevailed.
God holds out the promise of eternal life to all who trust in His mercy, and to all who depend on His grace in Christ Jesus. He gives His Holy Spirit to all who surrender their lives to Christ. The Holy Spirit gladdens our hearts with joy. He is God’s divine presence with us.
“Your hand will find all Your enemies. Your right hand will find those who hate You.” Psalm 21:8
A coronation day for a king, like an inauguration day for our president, is a very special day, but after that day ends, new challenges arise. The challenge of removing enemies and haters from within the inner circle of leadership.
No matter how perfectly a king or president performs, he or she will never gain the favor of everyone around them. Jesus was perfect. In John 15:25, Jesus told His disciples that the way people hated Him without a cause fulfilled Messianic prophecies. For example, in Psalm 109:3, David wrote, “They have surrounded Me with words of hatred, and fought against Me without a cause. In return for My love they are My accusers, but I give Myself to prayer.”
King Jesus not only gave the shirt off His back for people He also gave the flesh off His back. He was severely flogged. While He hung like a piece of shredded meat on the cross, religious leaders mocked Him and hurled insults at Him. Jesus prayed for them that the Father would forgive their sins because they did not know what they were doing.
The enemies of Christ and His servants think they are fighting against a person they don’t like, but their animosity is actually from Satan against God. “Those that aimed to un-king David aimed, in effect, to un-God the Lord. What is devised and designed against religion, and against the instruments God raises up to support and advance it, is very evil and mischievous, and God takes it as devised and designed against Himself and will so reckon for it.” [2]
“You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger. The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You. They devised a plot which they are not able to perform. Therefore You will make them turn their back. You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.” Psalm 21:9-12
David wrote of the enemies of the Lord being swallowed and devoured. In Numbers 16, 250 men decided to defy and rebel against God’s servant Moses. The Lord caused the earth to open up and swallow them and their families. In addition to them, another 14,700 died of a plague that broke out in the camp. This was an act of God to stop Satan from overcoming Moses.
David wrote of the wicked being cast into a fiery oven. In Matthew 13:49-50, Jesus said, “At the end of the age the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus spoke more about eternal hell than any other in the Bible. We should never take God’s words about His judgment on sin lightly. Jesus had to die a cruel death on the cross to atone for our sins. We should praise Him daily for what He did for us.
“Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.” Psalm 21:13
King David and the people of God in Jerusalem praised God for His strength to bring about a better government than the one they had endured under King Saul. What did they do for the Lord in response to His mighty acts on their behalf? They committed to singing and praising Him. Praise be to God for His marvelous goodness to us!
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary and Google sources
[2] Matthew Henry Commentary
Why does the king have joy in the Lord’s strength? The answer is easy. His job requires more of him that he has to give. God gives him free unmerited strength from above to manage the demands. Why does the king greatly rejoice in the Lord’s salvation? Because even the most conscientious king is going to make bad decisions from time to time or face a situation for which he has no solution. Our Lord bailed King David out of bad situations time and time again.
David had a shepherd’s heart. He wanted to see God’s people well shepherded. After Samuel anointed David to replace Saul as king, David endured perhaps as many as 10 years of being persecuted by Saul. More than once, Saul nearly killed him. His heart’s desire to be king of Israel was severely tested. Would God answer the request that was on his lips?
In 1 Samuel 18:6-11, the Lord reveals what sparked Saul’s desire to kill David. “When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of joy on timbrels. The women sang as they played, and said, ‘Saul has killed his 1,000’s, and David his 10,000’s.’ Then Saul became very angry. This saying did not please him. He said, ‘They have given David honor for 10,000’s, but for me only 1,000’s. Now what more can he have but to be king?’ And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on. [In fact...] The next day a bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul with power. He acted like a crazy man in his house, while David was playing the harp. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he threw the spear, thinking, ‘I will nail David to the wall.’ But David jumped out of his way twice.” Saul did everything to stop David from becoming the king after him, but all attempts failed because God had already anointed David to take his place.
In the story of David and Saul we have a parable of sort about humanity and Satan. Lucifer was once an angel of God according to Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:12-19, but he became arrogant and led a rebellion in heaven against God. Revelation 12:7-9 indicate that Satan had a group of angels on his side. God’s angel Michael, defeated Lucifer and his angels, and cast them down to earth. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” How is humanity connected to all of this? In Genesis 1:26-28, God gave the earth to Adam and by extension all of us who are Adam’s offspring. The devil does not want to be displaced.
The devil hates humanity for various reasons. First of all, we are made in the image of God which he lost due to his rebellion. Secondly, he and his angels were cast down to earth, but then, God gave to Adam and his offspring dominion over the earth. Thus, as Saul was outraged that God anointed David to replace him, so the devil is outraged that God has ordained humankind to replace him as rulers of this world.
Who did Jesus say would inherit the earth? In Matthew 5:5, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Those, like David, who entrust their lives to the Lordship, guidance and protection of God shall overcome the devil. Those who are anointed and led by God’s Holy Spirit as David was.
But we won’t inherit this dying and defiled earth. No, the Lord has promised us a new heaven and a new earth. In 2 Peter 3:13, Peter wrote, “According to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” The devil and his angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire, and God’s people will inherit a new earth that is free from him and no longer cursed due to sin. See Revelation 20:9-21:5.
The Lord met David with the blessings of goodness. Like the time when David and his men were hungry. In 1 Samuel 25:18, God moved in the heart of a rich woman named Abigail to provide them 200 loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready to eat, five baskets of dry grain, 100 vines of dried grapes and 200 loaves of figs.
“You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.” According to 2 Samuel 12:30 and 1 Chronicles 20:2, after conquering the nation of Ammon, King David took the king of Ammon’s gold crown and had it placed on his head. The crown weighed a talent of gold which is about 75 pounds, and it was set with precious stones. David must have had a strong neck to bear that kind of weight on his head. A golden crown represents supreme authority, honor, and victory. [1] The Lord gave David the blessing of a golden crown.
My guess is that David seldom wore that 75 pound crown of gold. David was not like pagan kings who lord their positions over people. For example, once, in 2 Samuel 23:15-17, three of David’s mighty men heard him express a desire for a drink of water. The three men broke behind enemy lines, snatched some water and brought it to David. When he found out that they risked their lives to secure the water for him, he would not drink it. David said to the Lord, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” The Lord led David to highly respect the lives of the people around him.
“He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—length of days forever and ever.” The Lord preserved David in the wilderness. He kept him alive so that he and his sons after him could enjoy a very long reign over the land.
As Christians we believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for us so that we would not perish but have everlasting life. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
The Lord placed on David honor and majesty. The Lord made him exceedingly glad with His presence. David trusted in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he prevailed.
God holds out the promise of eternal life to all who trust in His mercy, and to all who depend on His grace in Christ Jesus. He gives His Holy Spirit to all who surrender their lives to Christ. The Holy Spirit gladdens our hearts with joy. He is God’s divine presence with us.
“Your hand will find all Your enemies. Your right hand will find those who hate You.” Psalm 21:8
A coronation day for a king, like an inauguration day for our president, is a very special day, but after that day ends, new challenges arise. The challenge of removing enemies and haters from within the inner circle of leadership.
No matter how perfectly a king or president performs, he or she will never gain the favor of everyone around them. Jesus was perfect. In John 15:25, Jesus told His disciples that the way people hated Him without a cause fulfilled Messianic prophecies. For example, in Psalm 109:3, David wrote, “They have surrounded Me with words of hatred, and fought against Me without a cause. In return for My love they are My accusers, but I give Myself to prayer.”
King Jesus not only gave the shirt off His back for people He also gave the flesh off His back. He was severely flogged. While He hung like a piece of shredded meat on the cross, religious leaders mocked Him and hurled insults at Him. Jesus prayed for them that the Father would forgive their sins because they did not know what they were doing.
The enemies of Christ and His servants think they are fighting against a person they don’t like, but their animosity is actually from Satan against God. “Those that aimed to un-king David aimed, in effect, to un-God the Lord. What is devised and designed against religion, and against the instruments God raises up to support and advance it, is very evil and mischievous, and God takes it as devised and designed against Himself and will so reckon for it.” [2]
“You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger. The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You. They devised a plot which they are not able to perform. Therefore You will make them turn their back. You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.” Psalm 21:9-12
David wrote of the enemies of the Lord being swallowed and devoured. In Numbers 16, 250 men decided to defy and rebel against God’s servant Moses. The Lord caused the earth to open up and swallow them and their families. In addition to them, another 14,700 died of a plague that broke out in the camp. This was an act of God to stop Satan from overcoming Moses.
David wrote of the wicked being cast into a fiery oven. In Matthew 13:49-50, Jesus said, “At the end of the age the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus spoke more about eternal hell than any other in the Bible. We should never take God’s words about His judgment on sin lightly. Jesus had to die a cruel death on the cross to atone for our sins. We should praise Him daily for what He did for us.
“Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.” Psalm 21:13
King David and the people of God in Jerusalem praised God for His strength to bring about a better government than the one they had endured under King Saul. What did they do for the Lord in response to His mighty acts on their behalf? They committed to singing and praising Him. Praise be to God for His marvelous goodness to us!
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary and Google sources
[2] Matthew Henry Commentary
Thursday, March 26, 2026
May Your Prayers be Answered – Psalm 20
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. May the Name of the God of Jacob defend you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion. May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah! May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the Name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.” Psalm 20:1-5
Pastor Frank Westfall of Living Faith Church in Ashland, Missouri, wrote the words of this Psalm 20:1-5 in a card for Sherry, Grace and me. He had connected me with David Chu, the Executive Director of Hong Kong Youth For Christ. I wrote to Mr. Chu of my desire to bring the Gospel to China. He could not make any promises about ministry in China but welcomed me to serve alongside him in Hong Kong, which was a British Colony at that time. He said that I would be free to travel into China during my off hours. Everything came together for the mission to begin, but before we departed, Pastor Frank presented us with a card from the congregation. So, the words of Psalm 20:1-5 feel as a personal message directly from God to me.
It is good to read the Bible as a personal message directly from God to you, because although it was written under a wide variety of circumstances and to different generations of people, it is a message from God that He inspired and has preserved to bless and help each of us personally.
In John 21:25, God says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” In John 20:30-31, God says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.”
The three-year-long ministry of Jesus generated enough writing topics to overflow the world with books. Many of His miraculous signs are not included in the Gospel of John, but the ones which will help us to believe in Him as our Messiah, and the Son of God, they are there for us.
God is trying to help us through the Bible and through personal circumstances to believe in Him so that we will have life in His Name. Thanks be to God for that!
Did my family experience a “day of trouble” while in Hong Kong and the did the Lord answer us? Many times!
One of my favorite testimonies to tell is about the time we were on the verge of being out of food and had no money. We needed emergency help but had resolved to tell no one but God of our personal needs. We held onto God’s promise in Psalm 37:25 which says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” The Holy Spirit gave me a gift of faith to pray, “Father, please just send the money on the backs of angels.”
That day a check arrived from an elderly gentleman named Douglas Frazier. In the card, he wrote, “Buy your family something to eat.” We had not heard from Mr. Frazier for a long time. He had been a landlord of ours when we were in college. What’s more? The envelope had no stamp and no postal mark on it, but it was in our mailbox at the Kowloon Post Office. It had passed through mail systems half way around the world by the intervention of angels.
David believed that God answers prayer, especially... in the day... in the moment... of trouble. David was a man acquainted with trouble. He had to run for his life at times due to King Saul’s madness.
Even after he became the King of Israel, David derived directions from God during his devotion times with the Lord. He had prophets, priests, and royal counselors to advise him, yet he still inquired of the Lord on a personal level.
“The Name of the God of Jacob defend you.” God preserved Jacob from being killed by his brother Esau, by his Uncle Laban, by the Hivites after his sons massacred the people of Shechem, and from starvation due to famine. According to Genesis 47:28, Jacob lived to be 147 years old. Yes, I want the Name of the God of Jacob to defend me.
“May He send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion.” The Ark of the Covenant housed in the sanctuary was a type of Christ. It was the place where animal blood was poured out to atone for the sins of the people. In a sense asking for help out of the sanctuary is like praying in the Name of Jesus during the New Testament times. We appeal to God for help in the Name of our atoning sacrifice Jesus Christ. Strength out of Zion is spiritual strength, strength in the soul, in the inward man. [1] This strength comes from God’s Holy Spirit living in us.
“May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice.” Before reaching out to an unbeliever, it is good to profess faith in the shed blood of Christ to cover one’s sins. The blood of Christ is the perfect sacrifice for sin. Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb...” The “him” in this passage refers to the accuser of brothers and sisters in Christ (See Revelation 12:10). The enemy would have us to believe that we are unworthy or incapable to represent Christ well. That would be true if we did not have the Holy Spirit, but thanks to Christ taking away our sins, the Holy Spirit has come. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide your speech and actions. In Psalm 81:10, the Lord says, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
“May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose.” David was a man after God's own heart writing for others who had hearts for God, thus, he could pray with a clear conscience that God would grant their hearts’ desires and fulfill His good purpose in them. Those who make it their business to glorify God may expect that God will, in one way or other, gratify them to bring Him glory before other people. [2]
“We will rejoice in Your salvation. In the Name of our God will we set up our banners.” In 1 Samuel 17:45, David went against Goliath in the Name of the Lord of hosts. God helped him to do what no one thought for a moment he could do. The celebration, the banner and the trophy, belonged to the Lord. [3]
These prayers of David are prophecies concerning Christ the Son of David. In Christ, our prayers are abundantly answered. Christ won the war over the powers of death and darkness. God sent His Son help from the sanctuary in the form of an angel from heaven who strengthened Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He made Himself an offering for sin with which God was well pleased. The Father granted to Jesus His Son according to what was in His heart. He fulfilled the petition of Christ for our forgiveness. [4]
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed. He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.” Psalm 20:6-9
“Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed.” David had been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be the king of Israel, but after he received that anointing, a lot of trouble came his way. The devil via King Saul began to persecute and try to kill him. David had many near death moments, but the Lord answered his prayers from heaven and saved him each time with His right hand.
Who sits as the right hand of God? Mark 16:19 says, “So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” The references in the Old Testament of God saving by His right hand speak of how God has given His Son the ministry of saving people. In fact, the Name Jesus means the “Lord saves.”
The word “Messiah” in Hebrew and the word “Christ” in Greek mean anointed. Jesus is God’s Anointed One. He went to the grave for three days but was resurrected by the power of God. No chariot, horse or modern weapon of warfare can deliver a person from the power of death, but Christ who is the resurrection and life can and does.
In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
God’s people standout in the world when we exercise faith in Him. 1 John 5:4-5 says, “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Hebrews 11:32-33 says, “David... through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised.” In 2 Samuel 8:4-5, “David captured 1,000 of his [King Zobah’s] chariots, 7,000 charioteers and 20,000 foot soldiers.” “When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 of them.” God led David to victory after victory as David trusted in Him! Praise the Lord!
“Save, Lord! May the king answer us when we call.” The King that we look to is the King of kings. We ask our Lord Jesus Christ to grant earthly kings and governors hearts to answer and serve people. To do what is best and fair for all involved! Apart from the Lord, no governing authority will have a heart of integrity, honesty and accountability.
I have noticed during my travels on the roads of America that few motorists follow the speed limits posted on signs. I have also noticed that when cars ahead of me begin slowing down, it usually means a police car has been detected, and I will look for a police car, and sure enough, there’s one up ahead on the roadside.
Just as motorists need the presence of a police car now and then to remind them to drive the speed limit so leaders of nations need to know that a higher authority is watching what they are doing. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Deceivers will be deceived by others. Those who defraud others will be defrauded by others. Those who sabotage people will be sabotaged.
Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He will.” Let us pray that God will turn the hearts of our leaders to do what is right.
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” The “nothing” here refers to bringing forth good fruit. Let us pray that our leaders will abide in Christ so that from Christ good fruit can come forth from their lives. We are blessed in the USA to have many such leaders in our government.
Psalm 20 is a prayer for wellness. We should pray such prayers.
God promises us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Does your church support missionaries who are taking the Gospel to lands where there are few proclaimers of Christ? If so, may I suggest to get a picture of those missionaries, place their picture where you will see it daily, and pray for them. Pray that they will be able to share the Gospel with people and be able to establish discipleship groups. Pray for protection and provisions for them. May the Lord supply all their needs according to His riches and glory.
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
Pastor Frank Westfall of Living Faith Church in Ashland, Missouri, wrote the words of this Psalm 20:1-5 in a card for Sherry, Grace and me. He had connected me with David Chu, the Executive Director of Hong Kong Youth For Christ. I wrote to Mr. Chu of my desire to bring the Gospel to China. He could not make any promises about ministry in China but welcomed me to serve alongside him in Hong Kong, which was a British Colony at that time. He said that I would be free to travel into China during my off hours. Everything came together for the mission to begin, but before we departed, Pastor Frank presented us with a card from the congregation. So, the words of Psalm 20:1-5 feel as a personal message directly from God to me.
It is good to read the Bible as a personal message directly from God to you, because although it was written under a wide variety of circumstances and to different generations of people, it is a message from God that He inspired and has preserved to bless and help each of us personally.
In John 21:25, God says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” In John 20:30-31, God says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.”
The three-year-long ministry of Jesus generated enough writing topics to overflow the world with books. Many of His miraculous signs are not included in the Gospel of John, but the ones which will help us to believe in Him as our Messiah, and the Son of God, they are there for us.
God is trying to help us through the Bible and through personal circumstances to believe in Him so that we will have life in His Name. Thanks be to God for that!
Did my family experience a “day of trouble” while in Hong Kong and the did the Lord answer us? Many times!
One of my favorite testimonies to tell is about the time we were on the verge of being out of food and had no money. We needed emergency help but had resolved to tell no one but God of our personal needs. We held onto God’s promise in Psalm 37:25 which says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” The Holy Spirit gave me a gift of faith to pray, “Father, please just send the money on the backs of angels.”
That day a check arrived from an elderly gentleman named Douglas Frazier. In the card, he wrote, “Buy your family something to eat.” We had not heard from Mr. Frazier for a long time. He had been a landlord of ours when we were in college. What’s more? The envelope had no stamp and no postal mark on it, but it was in our mailbox at the Kowloon Post Office. It had passed through mail systems half way around the world by the intervention of angels.
David believed that God answers prayer, especially... in the day... in the moment... of trouble. David was a man acquainted with trouble. He had to run for his life at times due to King Saul’s madness.
Even after he became the King of Israel, David derived directions from God during his devotion times with the Lord. He had prophets, priests, and royal counselors to advise him, yet he still inquired of the Lord on a personal level.
“The Name of the God of Jacob defend you.” God preserved Jacob from being killed by his brother Esau, by his Uncle Laban, by the Hivites after his sons massacred the people of Shechem, and from starvation due to famine. According to Genesis 47:28, Jacob lived to be 147 years old. Yes, I want the Name of the God of Jacob to defend me.
“May He send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion.” The Ark of the Covenant housed in the sanctuary was a type of Christ. It was the place where animal blood was poured out to atone for the sins of the people. In a sense asking for help out of the sanctuary is like praying in the Name of Jesus during the New Testament times. We appeal to God for help in the Name of our atoning sacrifice Jesus Christ. Strength out of Zion is spiritual strength, strength in the soul, in the inward man. [1] This strength comes from God’s Holy Spirit living in us.
“May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice.” Before reaching out to an unbeliever, it is good to profess faith in the shed blood of Christ to cover one’s sins. The blood of Christ is the perfect sacrifice for sin. Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb...” The “him” in this passage refers to the accuser of brothers and sisters in Christ (See Revelation 12:10). The enemy would have us to believe that we are unworthy or incapable to represent Christ well. That would be true if we did not have the Holy Spirit, but thanks to Christ taking away our sins, the Holy Spirit has come. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide your speech and actions. In Psalm 81:10, the Lord says, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
“May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose.” David was a man after God's own heart writing for others who had hearts for God, thus, he could pray with a clear conscience that God would grant their hearts’ desires and fulfill His good purpose in them. Those who make it their business to glorify God may expect that God will, in one way or other, gratify them to bring Him glory before other people. [2]
“We will rejoice in Your salvation. In the Name of our God will we set up our banners.” In 1 Samuel 17:45, David went against Goliath in the Name of the Lord of hosts. God helped him to do what no one thought for a moment he could do. The celebration, the banner and the trophy, belonged to the Lord. [3]
These prayers of David are prophecies concerning Christ the Son of David. In Christ, our prayers are abundantly answered. Christ won the war over the powers of death and darkness. God sent His Son help from the sanctuary in the form of an angel from heaven who strengthened Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He made Himself an offering for sin with which God was well pleased. The Father granted to Jesus His Son according to what was in His heart. He fulfilled the petition of Christ for our forgiveness. [4]
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed. He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.” Psalm 20:6-9
“Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed.” David had been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be the king of Israel, but after he received that anointing, a lot of trouble came his way. The devil via King Saul began to persecute and try to kill him. David had many near death moments, but the Lord answered his prayers from heaven and saved him each time with His right hand.
Who sits as the right hand of God? Mark 16:19 says, “So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” The references in the Old Testament of God saving by His right hand speak of how God has given His Son the ministry of saving people. In fact, the Name Jesus means the “Lord saves.”
The word “Messiah” in Hebrew and the word “Christ” in Greek mean anointed. Jesus is God’s Anointed One. He went to the grave for three days but was resurrected by the power of God. No chariot, horse or modern weapon of warfare can deliver a person from the power of death, but Christ who is the resurrection and life can and does.
In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
God’s people standout in the world when we exercise faith in Him. 1 John 5:4-5 says, “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Hebrews 11:32-33 says, “David... through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised.” In 2 Samuel 8:4-5, “David captured 1,000 of his [King Zobah’s] chariots, 7,000 charioteers and 20,000 foot soldiers.” “When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 of them.” God led David to victory after victory as David trusted in Him! Praise the Lord!
“Save, Lord! May the king answer us when we call.” The King that we look to is the King of kings. We ask our Lord Jesus Christ to grant earthly kings and governors hearts to answer and serve people. To do what is best and fair for all involved! Apart from the Lord, no governing authority will have a heart of integrity, honesty and accountability.
I have noticed during my travels on the roads of America that few motorists follow the speed limits posted on signs. I have also noticed that when cars ahead of me begin slowing down, it usually means a police car has been detected, and I will look for a police car, and sure enough, there’s one up ahead on the roadside.
Just as motorists need the presence of a police car now and then to remind them to drive the speed limit so leaders of nations need to know that a higher authority is watching what they are doing. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Deceivers will be deceived by others. Those who defraud others will be defrauded by others. Those who sabotage people will be sabotaged.
Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He will.” Let us pray that God will turn the hearts of our leaders to do what is right.
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” The “nothing” here refers to bringing forth good fruit. Let us pray that our leaders will abide in Christ so that from Christ good fruit can come forth from their lives. We are blessed in the USA to have many such leaders in our government.
Psalm 20 is a prayer for wellness. We should pray such prayers.
God promises us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Does your church support missionaries who are taking the Gospel to lands where there are few proclaimers of Christ? If so, may I suggest to get a picture of those missionaries, place their picture where you will see it daily, and pray for them. Pray that they will be able to share the Gospel with people and be able to establish discipleship groups. Pray for protection and provisions for them. May the Lord supply all their needs according to His riches and glory.
[1] Matthew Henry Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The Glory of God – Psalm 19
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” Psalm 19:1-6
Francis Bacon wrote, “God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book He wrote, namely Scripture. But He has written a second book called creation.” [1]Sun, moon, stars, sky, land, sea, trees, grass, rocks, birds, fish, animals convey knowledge to us about our Creator. Your image and mine created in His image speak to us about Him. His wisdom is embodied in each tangible handiwork.
“Thank You Heavenly Father for speaking to us via the visible wonders You have created.”
God’s creation serves not only to show the folly of atheists, who see there is a heaven and yet say, ‘There is no God,’ who see the effect and yet say, ‘There is no cause,’ but to show the folly of idolaters also, and the vanity of their imagination, who, though the heavens declare the glory of God, yet they give that glory to things made with human hands. [2]
All created things had a beginning. They could not make themselves. They could not be produced by a casual hit of atoms, that is an absurdity. They had a Creator. They are God’s works. The works of His fingers as Psalms 8:3 proclaims. They declare His glory. [3]
God is not limited by time, space of matter as we are. Time, space and matter are called a continuum. All of them must come into existence at the same instant. Because if there were matter but no space, where would you put it? If there were matter and space but no time, when would you put it? You cannot have time, space or matter independently. They have to come into existence simultaneously. Genesis 1:1 tells in ten words how God began creation: “In the beginning” [there’s time], “God created the heaven” [there’s space], “and the earth” [there’s matter]. So, you have a trinity of time, space, matter with each of these also containing a trinity. Time is past, present and future. Space is length, width and height. Matter is solid, liquid and gas. The Triune God created the basic elements of the universe in trinitarian formation. [4]
The statement that describes God’s essence to us is recorded in 1 John 4:8, this verse says, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” “God is love.” John repeats this truth in 1 John 4:16, “We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Seek for love in this world, and you will be continuously disappointed until you find God, for love is from God.
The word for “love” in the New Testament is agape. Agape is an unconditional love, meaning to love when love is not reciprocated. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus urged people to love their enemies. In Romans 5:6-8, Paul differentiates between natural and divine love, writing, that God demonstrated His love for people by sending His Son to die for us while we were still sinners. We had nothing to offer God, but He had a great gift of grace to offer us... the gift of love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, God defines what love is. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” It is after we have experienced God’s love, that we are able to give His love to others. In Acts 20:35, Paul quoted Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Once, a person is born again and made anew by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. He or she wants to love people as God loves people... finding great delight in showing His love to people.
In John 13:34-35, Jesus had a new command for the people of God. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Divine love is from above. The world is starving for the Father’s love. God has called us by His Word and Spirit to express it.
“Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.” God preserves this established order without variation, according to His covenant with Noah in Genesis 8:22. The counterchanging of day and night, in so exact a method, is a great display of the power of God. The sunrise and sunset circuit are so consistent that we can foretell the hour and the minute at which the sun will rise at such a place. As the light of the morning befriends the business of the day, so the shadows of the evening befriend the repose of the night. Every day and every night speak of the goodness of God. [5]
God’s Word compares the sun to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, richly dressed and adorned. He rejoices as a strong man to run a race. In Matthew 9:15, 25:1-6, Ephesians 5:25-30, Revelation 19:7-9, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Bridegroom who returns for His Bride the Church. His presence lights up her life. His seeming absence due to her sin leaves her in a dark place. The consistency with which the sun returns each day is a reminder that her Bridegroom shall faithfully return for her just as He promised that He would. When Jesus Christ returns, He will be mighty and all victorious.
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. In Romans 10:18, Paul used this as a reason why the Jews should not be angry with him and others for preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, because God had already made himself known to them by the works of creation. In Romans 1:20, Paul wrote, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” All people may hear these natural immortal “preachers” speak to them in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. [6]
“The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11
The Law of the Lord is perfect. It does not need to be revised or amended. The Law converts the soul by revealing the soul’s depravity and by pointing us to the Gospel where we learn of our Redeemer’s love and forgiveness of sinners.
The testimony of the Lord is truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “God’s Law is called a testimony because it witnesses to what God requires of people, and what upon the performance of that condition, God will do for people.” [7] God’s testimony yields wisdom. In John 8:32, Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” How can anyone make good decisions based on deceptive intelligence? They cannot.
In this corrupt world, reporters get paid for portraying news in a particular fashion whether it is based on truth or not. Thus, it is nearly impossible for listeners to discern if they are being fed facts or propaganda of a particular consortium of con artists.
The testimony of the Lord is sure. He does not lie or deceive. The testimony of the Lord makes us wise unto salvation. In 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Paul wrote to Timothy saying, “From a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ...that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Do you want to rejoice? Learn and hold to the statutes of the Lord. The statutes of the Lord are right, and, because they are right, they rejoice the heart. When the Law is written in our hearts, it lays a foundation for everlasting joy, by restoring us to our right mind.
Do you want your lights turned on? Embrace the commandments of the Lord. Don’t be a rebel. Lucifer was a rebel and he ended up becoming a devil. His future home is the Lake of Fire. The commandment of the Lord is pure. There is no darkness, no dross and no defilement in it.
The fear of the Lord is clean and makes us clean. In John 15:3, Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you.” The disciples walked with Jesus due to their awe of Him. He cleansed their hearts and minds from sin by His words.
The Lord’s judgments are true and righteous. In the Hebrew Scripture, judgments were primarily something done FOR people. God heard a cry for justice and brought justice about.
The Law, the testimony, the statutes, the commandments, the fear of the Lord and the judgments of the Lord warn us so we avoid harm. They keep us in the way of eternally rich rewards. They are more fulfilling and meaningful than gold and sweet treats.
In each of the six statements of Psalms 19:7-9, the phrase “of the Lord” is repeated. The Law, the testimony, the statutes, the commandments, the fear and the judgments are weighty because they are of the Lord who made heaven and earth. The angels in heaven live by them. One day, the Lord will judge the world in righteousness by them. [8]
God’s people prefer God’s Word over the world’s wealth. Gold is earthly. Grace is heavenly. Gold is temporal. Grace is eternal. [9]
God warns His servants by His Word. He warns us of our duties toward Him, of the dangers we are to avoid, and the day of judgment for which we must prepare. In Ezekiel 3:17, 33:7, He warns the wicked not to go on in his wicked way and warns the righteous not to turn from his good way. The wise do receive and act on His warnings. [10]
“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14
Who can understand his errors? God’s Law describes errors. Every transgression of God’s commandment is an error. An error is a deviation from God’s rules by which we were to live. By the Law, says David in Psalm 40:12, he learned that his sins were more than the hairs on his head. Unable to the perceive the number of his sins, he cried out to the Lord to cleanse him from secret faults. Those faults which were hidden from his self-observation. Secret sins render us unfit for communion with God. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” [11] That’s a scary thought! Imagine being in danger and crying out to God and being ignored!
1 John 1:7-10 says, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” God is ready to forgive and cleanse our record of sins, but we must be willing to acknowledge them, confess and seek His forgiveness.
When God forgives our sins, those sins are purged from our record forever.
David asked the Lord to keep him back from presumptuous sins. “Let them not have dominion over me.” David did not want to be enslaved or addicted to any particular sin. Sins against Holy Spirit convictions and admonitions from God’s Word begin to numb the conscience and harden the heart. “God, please keep us from temptation and deliver us from this evil in this regard... either by Your providence preventing the temptation or by Your grace giving us victory over it.”
If we favor our sins, we cannot expect God should favor us or our services. David’s services unto God were the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart. His holy affections offered up to God! [12]
May the godly meditations of our hearts be expressed with words from our mouth for God’s glory and the edification of others. [13]
What was David’s main care concerning his services unto God? That they might be acceptable with God. If our services be not acceptable to God, what do they avail for us? [14]
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Matthew Henry Commentary (revised wording for simplicity)
[3] Ibid
[4] @highlightTruth
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary (revised wording for simplicity)
[6] Ibid
[7] John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
[8] Matthew Henry Commentary (revised wording for simplicity)
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
[13] Ibid
[14] Ibid
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
I will Love You O Lord – Psalm 18
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the servant of the Lord, David, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said, ‘I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so, shall I be saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3
David and the apostles were happy to be known as the Lord’s servants. David placed “servant” before his given name in the Hebrew text. [1] Paul repeatedly introduced himself as a “servant of Christ Jesus” (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1). Peter identified himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). James referred to himself as a “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). Jude identified himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1). The Greek word for servant is “doulos” which implies that they were “purchased” by Christ, and therefore, willing to serve Him. In Revelation 5:9, in heaven, the saved people of God celebrate what Christ did for them, singing, “You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”
David had endured years of persecution from King Saul. Perhaps, as many as 10 years! From the time, he killed Goliath as a young man until he was 30 years old and became king. Who would have thought that a good deed such as killing a giant would have brought on so many years of misery. It’s as though Goliath represented Satan, and therefore, Satan wanted to kill David for bringing him down.
1 Samuel 16:14 says that after the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, “an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” This spirit yielded for him fits of paranoia and rage. Evil spirits always want to turn people against the Lord and His anointed one. Due to Saul’s disobedience, the Lord allowed the spirit to torment him. Sadly, Saul never turned to the Lord for rescue.
How many people have grown up with a family member or someone outside their family that targets them for persecution? Saul was David’s father-in-law and king. Therefore, he felt that he could not harm or kill him. He had to avoid him. He had to place Saul in God’s hands.
Obviously, God used David’s heartbreaking circumstances to deepen his relationship with him. What was David’s initial response on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul? He declared, “I will love You, O Lord.” To love the Lord is the first and great commandment. Blessed is the man, woman, boy or girl who has a genuine love for God in his or her heart. A great way to bless the Lord is to love Him.
David also described who the Lord was to him. God was his strength. The Lord protected and delivered David from a king and his army. He trusted in the Lord, and the Lord did not disappoint him. He declared that the Lord is worthy to be praised. After he became king, he appointed many musicians and singers to lead praise and worship in Israel.
“The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:4-6
At times, there had been just a hair between David and death. He experienced extreme fear. He experienced sorrow. What did David do? He cried out to the Lord. The Scripture doesn’t say that he prayed. It says that he cried out. These were intense moments of emotion before the Lord.
Jesus Christ experienced the pangs of death. Ungodly people tortured and insulted Him. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. On the third day, after His death, He resurrected from the tomb. Acts 2:24 says, “God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”
“Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also and came down with darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub and flew. He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place. His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones, and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from above, He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place. He delivered me because He delighted in me.” Psalm 18:7-19
In this passage, David describes God becoming angry at the news of his anguish. God blew smoke out of His nose and fire out of His mouth. He flew to David’s rescue. David’s enemies thought he was down for the last time, but the Lord was the difference maker. The Lord supported David. The Lord brought David into a broad place.
Darkness, hailstones, fire, thunder and lightnings appear in Revelation 8:5, 11:19, 16:10, 18, 21, when the first, fourth and fifth bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on earth. These judgments are likely in response to the mistreatment of God’s servants. Revelation 18:20 says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
“The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.” Psalm 18:20-24
The Lord had given David grace to do what was right amidst very evil circumstances. Thus, I don’t perceive that he is taking onto himself the glory that belongs to the Lord. He is merely stating a fact. God curbed David’s will to do what was right in His sight. His obedience to the Lord’s directions saved him from harm. He could not afford to slip up, and the Lord kept him on the straight and narrow road.
In 2 Corinthians 1:12, Paul wrote, “Our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.” In Acts 23:1, Paul declared before his enemies, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” The Lord helped Paul not to violate his conscience amidst those who wanted him to do so.
It is good to keep one’s conscience clean. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul warned that in the last days people’s consciences will be ineffective. He wrote, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”
“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful. With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless. With the pure You will show Yourself pure. And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people but will bring down haughty looks. For You will light my lamp. The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.” Psalm 18:25-29
The Lord says in Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” You want God’s mercy, show mercy. You want God’s holiness and purity, pursue Him for these virtues.
In Matthew 5:7-8, Jesus taught us, saying, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
God saves the humble, that is, those who know their need of Him. And He gives added blessings such as light where it is dark, and ability to overcome armies and walls that want to halt your progress.
God shows Himself shrewd with the devious. The Hebrew word “pathal” (shrewd) implies twisting, but when applied to God, it signifies His ability to turn the plots of the crooked back upon themselves, not that God Himself is immoral or deceitful. [2]
“As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is proven. He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” Psalm 18:30-31
Contrary to what some would say about God, David knows God as perfect. His Word is proven. David trusted in the Lord and the Lord protected him against an army that was waged against him. An army, incidentally, that he did not feel at liberty to fight against due to them being misled by evil king.
“As for God, His way is perfect.” Earthly fathers, even at their best fail to be perfect towards their children. In Matthew 5:48, in the context of love, Jesus said that our Father in heaven is perfect. In Matthew 5:45-47, 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” Our Heavenly Father shows lovingkindness both toward those who love Him and those who don’t.
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:32-36
Here, David gives God the glory for his triumphs. God gave him strength when he was weak. God helped him to navigate through very life threatening circumstances and survive. God helped him to win battles. God’s right hand held him up. Christ sits at the right hand of God.
God’s gentle treatment of David helped him to become great. Our Heavenly Father is not like earthly fathers who exasperate their children. Isaiah 40:11 says, “He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads those that have young.” This verse is a good one for parents to claim. “Gently lead us as we try to raise a family.” May the Lord also help us as parents to be gentle with our children.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The Lord enlarged the path under David, so his feet did not slip. God provided for David blessings amidst trials that helped him to remain faithful to God. He did not slip away from God.
“I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise. They have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; even to the Lord, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind. I cast them out like dirt in the streets.” Psalm 18:37-42
In terms of enemies that David could destroy without reservation such as the Philistines, Moabites, and Ammonites, the Lord helped him to subdue them. He beat them down as fine as dust so they could not rise up again to cause God’s people harm.
In this way, David was a type of Christ. Albeit Christ took down spiritual forces of wickedness in high places. He cast down the accuser of the brothers. Colossians 2:13-15 says, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” By atoning for our sin, Jesus took away the devil’s right to punish and curse us due to our sin. 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
“You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they obey me. Foreigners submit to me. Foreigners fade away and come frightened from their hideouts.” Psalm 18:43-45
David had so much that he wanted to do for God’s glory, but until now, the striving of the people had thwarted his progress. Finally, the Lord gave him a clear opportunity to build worship in Israel. To build up people’s faith in God! Whereas before Saul’s death, he had to exist as a fugitive exists. In 1 Samuel 21:13-15, he even pretended to be a crazy person to escape death at the hands of the Philistines. Now, he was king of his nation commanding the army of God. He began to defeat Israel’s enemies on every side.
“The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me and subdues the peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me. You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your Name. Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore.” Psalm 18:46-50
Mortal friends live and die, but the Lord lives forever. David rendered unto God his highest praise. Only God, not anyone else, could do the miracles that God did for him. David was determined to thank the Lord and sing praises unto His Name as long as he lived, which brings us back to his opening declaration, “I will love You, O Lord.”
[1] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[2] priceb3.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/psalm-1825-26, article by P. B. Middlebrook III
David and the apostles were happy to be known as the Lord’s servants. David placed “servant” before his given name in the Hebrew text. [1] Paul repeatedly introduced himself as a “servant of Christ Jesus” (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1). Peter identified himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). James referred to himself as a “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). Jude identified himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1). The Greek word for servant is “doulos” which implies that they were “purchased” by Christ, and therefore, willing to serve Him. In Revelation 5:9, in heaven, the saved people of God celebrate what Christ did for them, singing, “You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”
David had endured years of persecution from King Saul. Perhaps, as many as 10 years! From the time, he killed Goliath as a young man until he was 30 years old and became king. Who would have thought that a good deed such as killing a giant would have brought on so many years of misery. It’s as though Goliath represented Satan, and therefore, Satan wanted to kill David for bringing him down.
1 Samuel 16:14 says that after the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, “an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” This spirit yielded for him fits of paranoia and rage. Evil spirits always want to turn people against the Lord and His anointed one. Due to Saul’s disobedience, the Lord allowed the spirit to torment him. Sadly, Saul never turned to the Lord for rescue.
How many people have grown up with a family member or someone outside their family that targets them for persecution? Saul was David’s father-in-law and king. Therefore, he felt that he could not harm or kill him. He had to avoid him. He had to place Saul in God’s hands.
Obviously, God used David’s heartbreaking circumstances to deepen his relationship with him. What was David’s initial response on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul? He declared, “I will love You, O Lord.” To love the Lord is the first and great commandment. Blessed is the man, woman, boy or girl who has a genuine love for God in his or her heart. A great way to bless the Lord is to love Him.
David also described who the Lord was to him. God was his strength. The Lord protected and delivered David from a king and his army. He trusted in the Lord, and the Lord did not disappoint him. He declared that the Lord is worthy to be praised. After he became king, he appointed many musicians and singers to lead praise and worship in Israel.
“The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:4-6
At times, there had been just a hair between David and death. He experienced extreme fear. He experienced sorrow. What did David do? He cried out to the Lord. The Scripture doesn’t say that he prayed. It says that he cried out. These were intense moments of emotion before the Lord.
Jesus Christ experienced the pangs of death. Ungodly people tortured and insulted Him. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. On the third day, after His death, He resurrected from the tomb. Acts 2:24 says, “God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”
“Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also and came down with darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub and flew. He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place. His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones, and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from above, He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place. He delivered me because He delighted in me.” Psalm 18:7-19
In this passage, David describes God becoming angry at the news of his anguish. God blew smoke out of His nose and fire out of His mouth. He flew to David’s rescue. David’s enemies thought he was down for the last time, but the Lord was the difference maker. The Lord supported David. The Lord brought David into a broad place.
Darkness, hailstones, fire, thunder and lightnings appear in Revelation 8:5, 11:19, 16:10, 18, 21, when the first, fourth and fifth bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on earth. These judgments are likely in response to the mistreatment of God’s servants. Revelation 18:20 says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
“The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.” Psalm 18:20-24
The Lord had given David grace to do what was right amidst very evil circumstances. Thus, I don’t perceive that he is taking onto himself the glory that belongs to the Lord. He is merely stating a fact. God curbed David’s will to do what was right in His sight. His obedience to the Lord’s directions saved him from harm. He could not afford to slip up, and the Lord kept him on the straight and narrow road.
In 2 Corinthians 1:12, Paul wrote, “Our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.” In Acts 23:1, Paul declared before his enemies, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” The Lord helped Paul not to violate his conscience amidst those who wanted him to do so.
It is good to keep one’s conscience clean. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul warned that in the last days people’s consciences will be ineffective. He wrote, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”
“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful. With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless. With the pure You will show Yourself pure. And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people but will bring down haughty looks. For You will light my lamp. The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.” Psalm 18:25-29
The Lord says in Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” You want God’s mercy, show mercy. You want God’s holiness and purity, pursue Him for these virtues.
In Matthew 5:7-8, Jesus taught us, saying, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
God saves the humble, that is, those who know their need of Him. And He gives added blessings such as light where it is dark, and ability to overcome armies and walls that want to halt your progress.
God shows Himself shrewd with the devious. The Hebrew word “pathal” (shrewd) implies twisting, but when applied to God, it signifies His ability to turn the plots of the crooked back upon themselves, not that God Himself is immoral or deceitful. [2]
“As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is proven. He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” Psalm 18:30-31
Contrary to what some would say about God, David knows God as perfect. His Word is proven. David trusted in the Lord and the Lord protected him against an army that was waged against him. An army, incidentally, that he did not feel at liberty to fight against due to them being misled by evil king.
“As for God, His way is perfect.” Earthly fathers, even at their best fail to be perfect towards their children. In Matthew 5:48, in the context of love, Jesus said that our Father in heaven is perfect. In Matthew 5:45-47, 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” Our Heavenly Father shows lovingkindness both toward those who love Him and those who don’t.
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:32-36
Here, David gives God the glory for his triumphs. God gave him strength when he was weak. God helped him to navigate through very life threatening circumstances and survive. God helped him to win battles. God’s right hand held him up. Christ sits at the right hand of God.
God’s gentle treatment of David helped him to become great. Our Heavenly Father is not like earthly fathers who exasperate their children. Isaiah 40:11 says, “He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads those that have young.” This verse is a good one for parents to claim. “Gently lead us as we try to raise a family.” May the Lord also help us as parents to be gentle with our children.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The Lord enlarged the path under David, so his feet did not slip. God provided for David blessings amidst trials that helped him to remain faithful to God. He did not slip away from God.
“I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise. They have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; even to the Lord, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind. I cast them out like dirt in the streets.” Psalm 18:37-42
In terms of enemies that David could destroy without reservation such as the Philistines, Moabites, and Ammonites, the Lord helped him to subdue them. He beat them down as fine as dust so they could not rise up again to cause God’s people harm.
In this way, David was a type of Christ. Albeit Christ took down spiritual forces of wickedness in high places. He cast down the accuser of the brothers. Colossians 2:13-15 says, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” By atoning for our sin, Jesus took away the devil’s right to punish and curse us due to our sin. 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
“You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they obey me. Foreigners submit to me. Foreigners fade away and come frightened from their hideouts.” Psalm 18:43-45
David had so much that he wanted to do for God’s glory, but until now, the striving of the people had thwarted his progress. Finally, the Lord gave him a clear opportunity to build worship in Israel. To build up people’s faith in God! Whereas before Saul’s death, he had to exist as a fugitive exists. In 1 Samuel 21:13-15, he even pretended to be a crazy person to escape death at the hands of the Philistines. Now, he was king of his nation commanding the army of God. He began to defeat Israel’s enemies on every side.
“The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me and subdues the peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me. You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your Name. Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore.” Psalm 18:46-50
Mortal friends live and die, but the Lord lives forever. David rendered unto God his highest praise. Only God, not anyone else, could do the miracles that God did for him. David was determined to thank the Lord and sing praises unto His Name as long as he lived, which brings us back to his opening declaration, “I will love You, O Lord.”
[1] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[2] priceb3.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/psalm-1825-26, article by P. B. Middlebrook III
Monday, March 23, 2026
Loving the Lord - Psalm 17
“A Prayer of David.”
“Hear a just cause, O Lord, attend to my cry. Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from Your presence. Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. You have tested my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me and have found nothing. I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalm 17:1-3
David turned to the Lord for justice. King Saul his father-in-law was trying to kill him due to jealousy. His prayer was not from deceitful lips. He was telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “Let my vindication come from Your presence.” Since God was with David, and David was with God, he expected a favorable ruling.
“Your eyes look on... You have tested my heart... You have visited me in the night.” Like a good lawyer, the Lord met with His client, looked at him in the eyes, and heard his heart. The Lord even met with David after business hours. The Lord knew that David had done nothing to deserve the kind of treatment that his governing authority was rendering to him.
“I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” David was not going to resort to any scheme that involved lying or speaking negatively about his king. Therefore, he absolutely needed God to show up. He needed his defense lawyer to win the case for him.
If we are abused, and misrepresented, by unrighteous men, it is a comfort that we have a heavenly defense lawyer to take up our case. In the New Testament, He is called our advocate.
“An advocate is a person who comes to our aid or pleads our case to a judge. Advocates offer support, strength, and counsel and intercede for us when necessary. The Bible says that Jesus is an Advocate for those who’ve put their trust in Him: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). In other verses, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our Advocate (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The English word advocate has been translated from the Greek word parakleton, which means ‘helper, adviser, or counselor.’” [1]
“In a human court system, an advocate speaks for the rights of his or her client. We call them lawyers because they have studied the intricacies of the law and can navigate through those often complicated statutes with accuracy and precision.” [2]
“Jesus stands as the Advocate between our repentant hearts and the law. If His blood has been applied to our lives through faith and confession of Him as Lord (Romans 10:9–10; 2 Corinthians 5:21), He pleads our case with the Righteous Judge. We may imagine the conversation going something like this: ‘Father, I know this one has sinned and violated Our commands. He is guilty as charged. However, You have said that My sacrifice is sufficient payment for the debt he owes. My righteousness was applied to his account when he trusted in Me for salvation and forgiveness. I have paid the price, so he can be pronounced not guilty. There is no debt left for him to pay’ (Romans 8:1; Colossians 2:14).” [3]
“An earthly advocate can only plead our case from external evidence or witness testimony. Our heavenly Advocate knows our hearts and pleads our case on the basis of what is there (Luke 5:22; Mark 2:8).” [4]
“Concerning the works of men, by the Word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip. I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God. Incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps. They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, as a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places.” Psalm 17:4-12
In Revelation 9:11, the Lord reveals the name of the king over demon spirits. His name is Apollyon. “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue his name is Apollyon.” Abaddon and Apollyon mean destroyer. The devil is a nation wrecker, home wrecker and soul destroyer.
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” King Saul was a man, but he was being led by an evil spirit to pursue David. Jesus and the apostles also encountered spiritual forces of wickedness as they proclaimed the Gospel.
In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” When we apply ourselves to being a disciple of Jesus who learns from Him and teaches others what He has taught us, the enemy will come against us. He does not want his captives set free. Therefore, I find it necessary to plead the blood of Jesus over me and others who go out into the world to be witnesses for Christ.
David provided for us some petitions that we can pray for ourselves and others who are witnessing for Christ. He prayed, “Uphold my steps in Your paths that my footsteps may not slip.” The enemy delights in tripping followers of Jesus. Pray for sure footedness.
“I have called upon You, for You will hear me.” Know that God hears your prayers in the midst of overwhelming trials. In due season, He shall turn the tide on those who oppose Your witness for Him.
“Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand.” Jesus sits at the righthand of the Father. He is our Advocate, Redeemer and Deliverer.
“Keep me as the apple of Your eye.” Please treat me as precious to You. The eye is sensitive. People naturally try by all means to protect their eyes. May Jesus do this for you and for me.
“Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” He prays that God would keep him with as much tenderness as the hen who gathers her young ones under her wings. Jesus used this metaphor in Matthew 23:37 to express His desire to treat the people of Jerusalem so. This also alludes to the wings of the cherubim that overshadow the mercy-seat.
The mercy-seat is where the sins of people were atoned for, it is a type of Christ. After Jesus arose from the dead, Mary came into His tomb and saw angels sitting at both ends of the slab on which His body had been laid. He had resurrected already and wasn’t there, but perhaps, Mary made the connection of this scene with the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. She saw a flat surface with an angel at either end of it just like the cherubim on the lid of the Ark of Covenant with a flat surface between them.
1 John 2:2 says of Jesus, “He is the Mercy-Seat for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
“The ringleader of David’s enemies, Saul was like a lion that lives by prey and is therefore greedy of it.” [5] Quite often the enemy of God’s people is compared to a lion. For example, in 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul speaks of being delivered out of the mouth of the lion. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter compares the devil to a roaring lion, walking about, seeking someone to devour. We should take these words seriously and pray for Christians who are witnessing for Christ in evil nations.
“Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down. Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, with Your hand from men, O Lord, from men of the world who have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children and leave the rest of their possession for their babes.” Psalm 17:13-14
In Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus spoke of the last days before His return as being like the days of Noah. He said, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The people were not doing anything that seemed particularly evil but in fact they were. They failed the first commandment. They did not love the Lord or honor Him. They were caught up in the affairs of this life to the neglect of their relationship with God.
David wrote of his enemies that they were men of the world, whose portion is in this life. They were focused on filling their bellies with earthly treasures. They wanted to lay up treasures for their children rather than seek God and His righteousness, and to trust God to take care of their children.
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” Psalm 17:15
It is extremely satisfying to see the Lord and find that He has been transforming you into His likeness. To love as He loves! To be at rest in one’s soul as God is at rest! To forgive as He forgives! To know that you will be with Him forever!
In 1 John 3:2, the Apostle John expressed this same sentiment, writing, “When He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
God blessed David with a great love for Him. This love kept David ever looking consistently to be with the Lord. Paul loved the Lord. He went so far as to write in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” To know Christ is to love Him. To not know and to not love Christ is to be accursed. But the Lord can change this.
In Ezekiel 36:26, the Lord says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Lord says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In Romans 5:5, the Lord says, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Before Paul knew Christ, he arrested Christians and consented to the death of Stephen the martyr, but after Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, Paul became like David. He was willing to go through any trial and hardship as an expression of his love for the Lord.
May the Lord help everyone who calls themself a Christian to love the Lord fervently.
[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Advocate
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary
“Hear a just cause, O Lord, attend to my cry. Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from Your presence. Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. You have tested my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me and have found nothing. I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalm 17:1-3
David turned to the Lord for justice. King Saul his father-in-law was trying to kill him due to jealousy. His prayer was not from deceitful lips. He was telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “Let my vindication come from Your presence.” Since God was with David, and David was with God, he expected a favorable ruling.
“Your eyes look on... You have tested my heart... You have visited me in the night.” Like a good lawyer, the Lord met with His client, looked at him in the eyes, and heard his heart. The Lord even met with David after business hours. The Lord knew that David had done nothing to deserve the kind of treatment that his governing authority was rendering to him.
“I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” David was not going to resort to any scheme that involved lying or speaking negatively about his king. Therefore, he absolutely needed God to show up. He needed his defense lawyer to win the case for him.
If we are abused, and misrepresented, by unrighteous men, it is a comfort that we have a heavenly defense lawyer to take up our case. In the New Testament, He is called our advocate.
“An advocate is a person who comes to our aid or pleads our case to a judge. Advocates offer support, strength, and counsel and intercede for us when necessary. The Bible says that Jesus is an Advocate for those who’ve put their trust in Him: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). In other verses, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our Advocate (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The English word advocate has been translated from the Greek word parakleton, which means ‘helper, adviser, or counselor.’” [1]
“In a human court system, an advocate speaks for the rights of his or her client. We call them lawyers because they have studied the intricacies of the law and can navigate through those often complicated statutes with accuracy and precision.” [2]
“Jesus stands as the Advocate between our repentant hearts and the law. If His blood has been applied to our lives through faith and confession of Him as Lord (Romans 10:9–10; 2 Corinthians 5:21), He pleads our case with the Righteous Judge. We may imagine the conversation going something like this: ‘Father, I know this one has sinned and violated Our commands. He is guilty as charged. However, You have said that My sacrifice is sufficient payment for the debt he owes. My righteousness was applied to his account when he trusted in Me for salvation and forgiveness. I have paid the price, so he can be pronounced not guilty. There is no debt left for him to pay’ (Romans 8:1; Colossians 2:14).” [3]
“An earthly advocate can only plead our case from external evidence or witness testimony. Our heavenly Advocate knows our hearts and pleads our case on the basis of what is there (Luke 5:22; Mark 2:8).” [4]
“Concerning the works of men, by the Word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip. I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God. Incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps. They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, as a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places.” Psalm 17:4-12
In Revelation 9:11, the Lord reveals the name of the king over demon spirits. His name is Apollyon. “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue his name is Apollyon.” Abaddon and Apollyon mean destroyer. The devil is a nation wrecker, home wrecker and soul destroyer.
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” King Saul was a man, but he was being led by an evil spirit to pursue David. Jesus and the apostles also encountered spiritual forces of wickedness as they proclaimed the Gospel.
In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” When we apply ourselves to being a disciple of Jesus who learns from Him and teaches others what He has taught us, the enemy will come against us. He does not want his captives set free. Therefore, I find it necessary to plead the blood of Jesus over me and others who go out into the world to be witnesses for Christ.
David provided for us some petitions that we can pray for ourselves and others who are witnessing for Christ. He prayed, “Uphold my steps in Your paths that my footsteps may not slip.” The enemy delights in tripping followers of Jesus. Pray for sure footedness.
“I have called upon You, for You will hear me.” Know that God hears your prayers in the midst of overwhelming trials. In due season, He shall turn the tide on those who oppose Your witness for Him.
“Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand.” Jesus sits at the righthand of the Father. He is our Advocate, Redeemer and Deliverer.
“Keep me as the apple of Your eye.” Please treat me as precious to You. The eye is sensitive. People naturally try by all means to protect their eyes. May Jesus do this for you and for me.
“Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” He prays that God would keep him with as much tenderness as the hen who gathers her young ones under her wings. Jesus used this metaphor in Matthew 23:37 to express His desire to treat the people of Jerusalem so. This also alludes to the wings of the cherubim that overshadow the mercy-seat.
The mercy-seat is where the sins of people were atoned for, it is a type of Christ. After Jesus arose from the dead, Mary came into His tomb and saw angels sitting at both ends of the slab on which His body had been laid. He had resurrected already and wasn’t there, but perhaps, Mary made the connection of this scene with the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. She saw a flat surface with an angel at either end of it just like the cherubim on the lid of the Ark of Covenant with a flat surface between them.
1 John 2:2 says of Jesus, “He is the Mercy-Seat for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
“The ringleader of David’s enemies, Saul was like a lion that lives by prey and is therefore greedy of it.” [5] Quite often the enemy of God’s people is compared to a lion. For example, in 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul speaks of being delivered out of the mouth of the lion. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter compares the devil to a roaring lion, walking about, seeking someone to devour. We should take these words seriously and pray for Christians who are witnessing for Christ in evil nations.
“Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down. Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, with Your hand from men, O Lord, from men of the world who have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children and leave the rest of their possession for their babes.” Psalm 17:13-14
In Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus spoke of the last days before His return as being like the days of Noah. He said, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The people were not doing anything that seemed particularly evil but in fact they were. They failed the first commandment. They did not love the Lord or honor Him. They were caught up in the affairs of this life to the neglect of their relationship with God.
David wrote of his enemies that they were men of the world, whose portion is in this life. They were focused on filling their bellies with earthly treasures. They wanted to lay up treasures for their children rather than seek God and His righteousness, and to trust God to take care of their children.
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” Psalm 17:15
It is extremely satisfying to see the Lord and find that He has been transforming you into His likeness. To love as He loves! To be at rest in one’s soul as God is at rest! To forgive as He forgives! To know that you will be with Him forever!
In 1 John 3:2, the Apostle John expressed this same sentiment, writing, “When He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
God blessed David with a great love for Him. This love kept David ever looking consistently to be with the Lord. Paul loved the Lord. He went so far as to write in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” To know Christ is to love Him. To not know and to not love Christ is to be accursed. But the Lord can change this.
In Ezekiel 36:26, the Lord says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Lord says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In Romans 5:5, the Lord says, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Before Paul knew Christ, he arrested Christians and consented to the death of Stephen the martyr, but after Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, Paul became like David. He was willing to go through any trial and hardship as an expression of his love for the Lord.
May the Lord help everyone who calls themself a Christian to love the Lord fervently.
[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Advocate
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Matthew Henry Commentary
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