With My Song I will Praise Him – Psalm 28

“A Psalm of David. To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock. Do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.” Psalm 28:1

In these verses David is very earnest in prayer. He cries, not thinks, not whispers, CRIES out to God for rescue. Do you want God to intervene for you? Then, say it to Him like you mean it.

He sees God as his indestructible rock. God is solid! You can depend on God. God is weighty! God is able to crush opposition.

He asks the Lord to respond to his prayer. “Be not silent to me.” He tells God why it is important for Him to respond to his prayer, “Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.” Apart from God’s rescue, you will perish.

In John 8:24, Jesus told the religious leaders, “I told you that you would die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am He [the Messiah], you will indeed die in your sins.” According to John 14:6, faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. In Acts 4:12, Peter preached, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name [than Jesus] under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” In Acts 16:30-31, when a man asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’”

Biblical faith in God is 100% confidence that Jesus alone is Messiah and that we must come to God in His Name lest we perish in our sins.

“Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.” Psalm 28:2

David cried out to God with his voice and he lifted his hands toward God’s holy sanctuary. The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy-Seat resided in the holy sanctuary. The mercy-seat between the cherubim was a type of Christ. This is where the priests made atonement for sin, that is, until Christ came and became our atoning sacrifice.

David lifted his hands toward God.

When I uplift my hands to God in prayer, I find that I take my prayers before God more seriously. When my hands are uplifted to the Lord, I am offering a sacrifice to Him. I am offering unto Him the sacrifice of praise, as well as the sacrifice of love as I intercede both for people that I know and people I do not know. In 1 Timothy 2:8, Paul wrote, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

“Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors. Give them according to the work of their hands. Render to them what they deserve. Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.” Psalm 28:3-5

David did not want to be carried downstream with those whose destiny is fiery destruction. They speak of wonderful things but do not deliver. They speak of peace, but cause mayhem.

David did not want to be drawn away from God’s holy presence by those who delight to do evil.

In Matthew 6:13, Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.” In James 4:7-8, 10, God’s Word says to “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

David prayed that God would give to evil doers what they gave to others. Sometimes when I pray for the nations, I pray that saboteurs of faith in Christ will be sabotaged. I pray that those who oppress and torture others will FEEL the PAIN they cause them, come to their senses and turn to Christ to save them.

In Acts 13:6-12, when Paul and Silas were sharing the Word of God with Sergius Paulus, a sorcerer named Elymas tried to turn Sergius from the faith. What happened? “Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.’” Elymas lost his vision. “When the proconsul [Sergius] saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”

In 2 Timothy 2:25-26, Paul wrote, “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” In the New Testament, the goal is to convert enemies to Christ.

In Acts 26:17-18, Jesus told Paul that He was sending him to the Gentiles to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ.

Why do people blaspheme God’s Name? Why do people hate God’s messengers? Paul explains in Ephesians 2:1-3 that before people believe in Christ that they are dead to God due to their trespasses and sins. Without Christ, people walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [the devil], and according to the spirit of disobedience. They live to fulfill the desires of the flesh. By nature they are children of wrath.

“Holy Spirit, please fill us with love for lost souls!” I’m glad people shared the Gospel with me!

“Blessed be the Lord because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Shepherd them also and bear them up forever.” Psalm 28:6-9

David blessed the Lord for listening to him. He let people know with songs and rejoicing that the Lord was His strength, shield and refuge.

David asked the Lord to save, bless, shepherd and carry people.

In Psalm 32:7, David wrote of the Lord, “You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah!”

Has the Lord ever brought songs of deliverance to your mind when you were in trouble? He has for me. In Zephaniah 3:17, the Bible says, “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”

All who witness for God need His strength and protection. Jesus had to escape from enemies. In John 8:59, the Pharisees took up stones to throw at Jesus, but “He hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” In Acts 23:12-31, the Apostle Paul’s nephew informed the Romans of a plot by 40 Jewish men to ambush and kill Paul. The Romans arranged 470 soldiers to protect Paul. Obviously, God orchestrated that protection.

In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This crazy world persecutes lovers of the Lord. Thankfully, the Lord has ways of preserving and providing for us who love Him. In Hebrews 13:5, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Praise the Lord!


[1] Matthew Henry's Commentary

The Lord is My Light – Psalm 27

“A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

In 2 Samuel 21:17, Abishai said to David, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” Abishai thought of David as a light, but David declared, “The Lord is my light.” David’s goal was to reflect the Lord’s light to people.

In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” God dispels darkness by speaking His Word. God gave us His Word, the Bible, so that we would not be in the dark in regards to who created and sustains us.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ is called the Word and the light. John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

God’s light enlightens the minds of simple people to become wise leaders. Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”

In John 8:12, Jesus confirmed that He is the light, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

The Lord is my salvation. The Name of Jesus means the “Lord saves.” In Matthew 1:21, before Jesus was born, an angel told Joseph that Mary shall bring “forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” In Luke 2:11, “On the night that Christ was born, an angel declared to a group of shepherds who were watching their sheep, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” In John 4:42, after the people of Sychar heard Jesus speak, they declared, “We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” We cannot save ourselves, that is, bring ourselves to heaven. Jesus can!

The Psalmist declared, “The Lord is the strength of my life.” The word for “strength” in Hebrew is מָעוֹז, it means a “stronghold.” A stronghold is a well-positioned fortress that provides safety from enemy assaults. Nothing on earth can penetrate God’s protection… not even a nuclear bomb. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.”

The Lord is the strength of my frail weak life. He keeps me from fainting and wasting away. In Him, I live and move and have my being.

“Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?” The answer is no one when God is with me, and I am with Him.

“When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:2-4

When David’s enemies came to devour him, God tripped them up. David did not need to smite them because they stumbled and fell. They were so confused and weakened by the Lord that they could not complete their mission.

In John 18:6, when evil men came to arrest Christ, He spoke a word, and they staggered and fell to the ground. The ruin of some of the enemies of God's people is an earnest of the complete conquest of them all. “Though they be numerous, an army of them, — though they be daring and their attempts threatening, — though they encamp against me, an army against one man, — though they wage war upon me, yet my heart shall not fear. Armies cannot hurt us if the Lord of armies protect us.” [1]

No one wants an army and a war to come against them, but David said, if these calamities happen, his heart would not fear. He would remain confident. He knew God. God is bigger than armies. Isaiah 40:15 says of God’s transcendence over the nations, , “Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales…”

By trusting in the Lord, David killed lions, bears and a giant when he was only a boy.

David practiced the presence of the Lord. He declared, “One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.” As David focused on loving the Lord, which by the way is the first commandment, the Lord was able to do things through David that He was not able to do through others.

In Genesis 35:7, Jacob called the place where God met with him the house of God. “He built an altar there and called the place El Bethel (God of the House of God), because there, God appeared to him.” God’s house is wherever He chooses to meet with us and commune with us. David tried to live in God’s “house” all his days. [2]

David inquired of God in His temple. The temple was a central gathering place for God’s people. David practiced both a personal and a public devotional life towards God. A good example for us! [3]

David sought the Lord and David inquired of the Lord. In other words, he pursued God. He did not wait for God to show up unexpectedly. David went to the temple where God was known to dwell. In a sense, David was like Mary in the New Testament. Luke 10:39 says that “Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word.” David wanted as much of the Lord as he could get.

David wanted to dwell in God’s house not due to the good entertainment there. Not due to the feasts that happened there! Not due to the music and good singing there! He wanted to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple. He desired to be in God’s courts that he might have the pleasure of meditating upon God. [4]

David’s life was full of battles and enemies, but rather than allowing thoughts of battles and enemies to dominate his thought-life, he let the peace of God which passes all understanding have his thought-life.

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion. In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” Psalm 27:5-6

The gracious presence of God’s Holy Spirit is the secret place of God’s tabernacle. People cannot see Him but He is there. He shows up in the promises of God’s Word. We know He has been with us when afterwards we find our feet on the rock of God’s truth. He provides us clear guidance. He assures us that our enemies will go down while we rise up. For the work of God’s Word and Spirit, David offered sacrifices of joy. By the power of God’s Spirit he sang praises.

The essence of worship is to seek the face of God. God’s favor is our chief good. In Psalms 145:16, the Lord’s open hand satisfies the desire of all living things. [5]

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me. Do not turn Your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.” Psalm 27:7-10

The Lord did hear David’s voice. He did have mercy on him and answer him. The Lord helped him. When those who were closest to David abandoned him, the Lord took care of him.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries. For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord! Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:11-14

The Lord did teach David His ways. He did lead David in a smooth path. He did deliver David from the will of those who sought an occasion to destroy him. The Lord helped David to prevail over all the fake news stories that were waged against him.

The Lord gave David faith to see God’s goodness in the land of the living. If the Lord had not given David this faith, he would have been overwhelmed with sorrow. The faith that God gave to David kept him patient, prayerful, and confident to keep pressing onward.

What a beautiful thought to see the Lord in the land of the living. 2 Peter 1:4 says that the Lord has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises...” Especially, the promise to see God’s face. In Psalm 17:15, David wrote, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” In Revelation 21:27-22:5, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, see God’s face. “They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

David urges us his listeners to wait on the Lord. Waiting on the Lord can be compared to waiting on the gas pump to fill your gas tank. Don’t put a shot of gas into your gas tank and drive away! No, fill your tank up! Don’t give your soul a shot of Jesus per day! No, fill your soul to the brim with Jesus. He will make you strong and give you courage to face your challenges. [6]


[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid

I Will Bless the Lord – Psalm 26

“A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord. I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me. Try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.” Psalm 26:1-3

“It is probable that David penned this psalm when he was persecuted by Saul.” David, like Christ, was mistreated by authorities though he had not broken any of their laws. [1]

David trusted God to judge him rightly. King Saul judged that David was a conspirator and traitor against him, which was not true. David had no one to appeal to other than God Himself. He wanted God to vindicate him. He told the Lord, “I have walked in my integrity.” He asked the Lord to examine and prove his mind and his heart. He was confident that the Lord would find no cause for the charges that King Saul brought against him. David’s eyes have been fixed on the Lord’s lovingkindness and truth.

God put it in David’s heart to walk in truth, and he delighted to do so.

In 2 John 1:4, the Apostle John wrote, “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.”

In Revelation 19:11, Jesus is called Faithful and True, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”

Faithful and True invited David to walk with Him in truth and David accepted His invitation.

David was faithful and true to King Saul. In 1 Samuel 24:1-7, when Saul entered a cave where David was hiding, David’s men whispered, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand.’” David could have killed King Saul but did not. Later, in 1 Samuel 26:7-11, when Abishai asked for permission to pin Saul to the ground with a spear, David again refused to harm “the Lord’s anointed,” trusting in God to remove Saul instead. David resisted calls from close friends to take justice into his own hands. He believed that God would eventually bring about justice for him.

“I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers and will not sit with the wicked.” Psalm 26:4-5

David avoided idolators and hypocrites. He hated evil gatherings. He would not sit with the wicked. In Psalm 1:1-2, David wrote, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night..” God’s Word provided sustenance for David’s soul and helped him to do works that glorified the Lord.

Thank God for David’s example. God can change a man and help him to make godly choices.

In Jude 1:17-19, Jude warns us not to participate with ungodly people in pursuing sinful pleasures. He wrote, “Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” Their acceptance of you is not worth the price they want you to pay.

“I will wash my hands in innocence. So, I will go about Your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.” Psalm 26:6-10

“I will wash my hands in innocence.” The first step for drawing near to God is to be cleansed of unbelief. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The cleansing of hands, heart and mind from unbelief is vital. How can you come to God if you don’t believe He exists. How can you pray prayers of faith when you are double-minded? Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

In Mark 1:15, Jesus preached, “Repent and believe the Gospel.” Repent of bad thoughts against God! Believe in His goodness! Believe in His love! “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

After repenting of unbelief, the next step is to come to the altar. Confess your sins to God and ask Him to apply the blood of His Son to your account. 1 John 1:7 says that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Having your sin under the blood of Christ opens the way for the Holy Spirit to come and fill your soul with His indwelling presence.

“O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Your wondrous works.” In Acts 2:4 the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, in Acts 2:11, their listeners declared, “we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” After David was cleansed of sin, he began to thank God and testify of God’s wonderous works.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David wrote, “I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.” In Ephesians 5:26, Paul wrote of the Lord cleansing people by the washing with water through the Word. The outcome of sanctification by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is love for God.

In Psalm 51:10, David prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” A sanctified heart is a happy heart. After David’s heart was purified, he loved the habitation of God’s house. He had the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12).

In Psalm 26:9-10, David asked the Lord to keep him from uniting his soul with sinners, evil schemers, bribers and murderers. In Matthew 6:13, Jesus taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” In Proverbs 1:10, Solomon coached his son, saying, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” In Proverbs 1:15-16, 18, he added, “My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path. For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. But they lie in wait for their own blood.” In other words, whatever evil they sow, they will reap.

“But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me and be merciful to me. My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless the Lord.” Psalm 26:11-12

David knew the path he wanted to take. He said, “As for me, I will walk in my integrity.” In other words, as I behave when good people are watching me, so I will behave when they are not. He asked the Lord to redeem him and be merciful to him. He knew his need of the Lord’s redemptive and merciful intervention to keep him on level ground. He did not want to harbor evil thoughts about his persecutor. David preferred to congregate with God’s people and be filled with praises and blessings toward the Lord. Amen! Hallelujah!


[1] Matthew Henry's Commentary

 

Our Soul Our Greatest Asset – Psalm 25

In Psalm 25, David entrusted his soul to God.

“A Psalm of David. To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You. Let me not be ashamed. Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed. Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.” Psalm 25:1-3

The word for “soul” in Hebrew is נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh). The Brown-Driver-Briggs Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon defines “Nephesh” as the “soul, the person-self, seat of the appetites, emotions or passions, activity of mind, will or character.” The soul is like the OS (Operating System) of the person.

David entrusted his soul to God. Our soul is our greatest asset. People safeguard money, homes, cars, jewels, and gold, but these possessions are temporal. Our souls are eternal. When our earthly body ceases to function, our soul either enters paradise or hell.

In Luke 12:19-20, God said to the man who stockpiled great riches for himself on earth, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asked, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

David entrusted his soul to God alone. He declared, “O my God, I trust in You.” David asked the Lord to keep him from being duped by enemies. Soul saboteurs tried to shame him into denying the Lord. David prayed, “Let me not be ashamed.” He prayed for others as well, “Let no one who waits on You be ashamed.” No, vice versa, “Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.”

“Show me Your ways, O Lord. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:4-5

David did not need to be prodded like a stubborn mule to learn from God. He asked God to show him, teach him and lead him. David said to God, “I am waiting on You.” “You are the God of my salvation.” He did not have a plan B. He was all in with God. David was the Lord’s disciple.

“Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies, and Your loving kindnesses, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. According to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.” Psalm 25:6-7

How did David want God to think of him? As that young rebel who crossed every line that he should not have crossed? No! He asked the Lord to remember him in the light of the Lord’s tender mercies and loving kindnesses. In other words, don’t consider me in the light of my works but in the light of Your works... according to Your grace and not by works of righteousness which I have done. Thus, we should also pray for ourselves that God would be gracious unto us for the sake of what His Son Jesus Christ did for us on the cross and at the empty tomb.

“Good and upright is the Lord. Therefore, He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” Psalm 25:8-10

The goodness and uprightness of the Lord moves Him to teach us sinners His way. He could leave us to our own devices and we would perish, but no, He stops and reaches out to us.

Romans 2:4 says that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” Hebrews 3:15 says, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 1 Peter 5:5-6 says, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

The first step on the road to recovery of our soul is humility before the Lord. Tell the Lord that you need Him. Ask Him to forgive your sins! Ask Him for mercy and truth. Confidence in God’s mercy helps us to receive God’s truth.

In Micah 6:8 the Lord says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

David mentions those who keep the Lord’s covenant. A covenant is a committed relationship. A committed relationship is the framework in which the Lord chooses to work with us.

David mentions those who keep the Lord’s testimonies. The Lord’s testimonies are the results of His active intervention in the world. Those who see the hand of God at work in our world today, are to happy share the testimonies of His miracles.

“For Your Name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.” Psalm 25:11

In our New Testament times, our sins are forgiven in the Name of Jesus. God’s forgiveness is based on the merits of Christ. Human acts of penance do not earn God’s forgiveness. Human financial donations to God’s work do not purchase forgiveness. Human acts of charity do not erase misdeeds. 1 John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

David had great sin, but he had an even greater Savior. Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

“Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.” Psalm 25:12-14

The Hebrew word for “fear” in Psalm 25:12 refers to reverent fear of God rather than a terrified alienation. In John 21:17, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, You know all things.” We should not come to the Bible with a proud attitude as though we of the modern era are so much more enlightened than those who wrote the Bible. No, the Bible was inspired by God. It has been preserved by God. Christ lives in the text of the Bible. Rather than inform the Bible about what we perceive is right and wrong, we should let the God of the Bible inform us. So often I pray respectfully to the Lord, saying, “I need Your help to understand this text” and He helps me. Luke 24:45 says, “He [Jesus] opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

“My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged. Bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul and deliver me. Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles!” Psalm 25:15-22

“Net” is frequently used in the Scriptures as a means of enemies to capture and detain God’s servant. David declares his situation. His feet were in a net, held fast and entangled, so that he could not extricate himself from it. Friends were far away and enemies were all around. He felt distressed, troubled and isolated. His body ached with pain. His enemies hated him. They were cruel towards him.

David asked the Lord to deliver his soul from the enemy’s net. He reminded the Lord that he was trusting in Him to rescue him. He did not want to compromise with evildoers. He prayed that integrity and uprightness would preserve him. He asked God to redeem him, to purchase him out of the captivity of his captors.

Our Lord Jesus Christ also experienced such cruel hatred and mistreatment while He was here on earth. He still does in the sense that whatever someone does to the least of His brethren, they do to Him.

What David say when he was in trouble? He wrote, “My eyes are ever towards the Lord.” In Hebrews 12:2, Paul put it this way, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“Dear Lord Jesus, unto You we entrust our souls! You are our Savior and Redeemer. Thank You for saving our souls. Thank You for turning what was meant for evil against us into a blessing. In our lives Lord, be glorified! For it is in Your Name Jesus that I pray. Amen.”

Who Shall Ascend on High – Psalm 24

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

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)

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?”

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)

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

[5] Ibid

[6] Ibid

[7] Ibid

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

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

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