Psalm 38- Self Inflicted Hopelessness

 ”Lord, do not punish me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has pressed down on me. 

For my iniquities have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear. 

For I put my hope in you, Lord; you will answer me, my Lord, my God.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭38‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬, ‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

In this Psalm David is remembering a time where he was overwhelmed by the intensity of his own sin.  He is recognizing just how impactful his sin was in his own life and likely to other people.  He is giving God credit for bringing him to this place of understanding, but he also sees that God is the only one who can help him.

I have felt this same way and this whole Psalm ministered deeply to me.  I had no idea how much pride was woven throughout my life and the way it impacted other people.  Foolishly, I was blind to it, and I had no one or nothing else to blame…this Psalm comforted me, because I knew other people have felt the same way, but also it helped me to stay focused on the One who could change me.

Lord, these Psalms seem hard to relate to, until they align with our experience.  Thank you for writing this as part of scripture so that we can see You working even in the hardest places of our life or the most hopeless scenarios.  Even if it is our fault, You still have compassion and a way of escape.  Help me to trust You always, even when You are the only hope.

Psalm 37- Person of Peace

 ”A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand. Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the person of peace will have a future. But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬, ‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods provision is discussed over and over in this Psalm.  The frustration of how people who reject the Lord are sometimes successful and it seems like they get away with their sinful behavior.  That can be confusing for the one who is sacrificing daily to follow the Lord.  Gods protection and guidance for His people is clear.

What stands out to me is the statement about the person of peace…what is meant by the person of peace?  I love this name because how they live their life is their nickname.  This person is at peace with everyone around them.  They are not often stirred up by their circumstances or by the trials of life.  They live confidently in every decision and rest in Gods promises.  I don’t know about you, but that sounds amazing!

Lord, You tell us that You will produce in us most of these qualities as we depend on the Spirit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control.  If I live this way, I will definitely be know as a man of peace.  Give me the strength to surrender to You so that I can produce these qualities and exude peace in every area of life!

Psalm 36- Wrong God?

 ”Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. Lord, you preserve people and animals. How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They are filled from the abundance of your house. You let them drink from your refreshing stream. For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of your light we see light.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭36‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This Psalm is powerful at comparing the one who is perusing self, while the other is looking at who God is.  This section is taken from the description of God…What an incredible visual description of who God is:

”Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your judgments like the deepest sea. Lord, you preserve people and animals. How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They are filled from the abundance of your house. You let them drink from your refreshing stream. For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of your light we see light.“

‭‭If this doesn’t sound like the God you are following, you need to realize that you are not following the God of the Bible.

Lord, help me to worship You because You are amazing!  Highlight for me when I have wrong beliefs about You, and remind me of the truth.  You are so good, we don’t deserve Your love…yet You give it to us.  I surrender to You!!!

Psalm 35- Devine Protection

 ”Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, “The Lord be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.” And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praise all day long.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭35‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This Psalm is from David and is full of requests that God would save him from his enemies that are trying to kill him.  For David this was actually his son attempting to Kill him and take his kingdom, or possibly Saul trying to kill his so that he wouldn’t take over as king.  He had a rough life with all kinds of turmoil cause by his own sin or others…

Thankfully, I don’t know of anyone trying to kill me physically…but I know the enemy is working to assassinate my character and drag me into sin.  I know my flesh is working to lure me into pursuing selfish desires.  And I feel the worlds pull to conform to its ways.  Everywhere I turn, destruction is lurking, ready to pull me into the darkness….

Lord, thank you for caring about me and desiring what is good for me.  What a blessing to know that you actually take pleasure in protecting me and giving me what is best…not just the least necessary for me to get by.  You have blessed me immeasurably and continue to protect me.  I echo David and praise you with every step, all day long.

Psalm 34- Blessed Fingerprints

 ”I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I love how this passage is packed with delight in the Lord…I can relate to it in this last season.  God continues to be faithful and has blessed in so many ways.  I am literally walking around humming praise songs and just so thankful for all that He has done.

I have not always been able to recognize all that God is doing around me.  There have been seasons of frustration, wonder and trial.  In each of them I look back and see so much of what was invisible to me at the time.  Growth that happened in those seasons, faith that was strengthened, purification and even exposing idols in my life.  Without each of those periods, I would not be able to enjoy God like I do today!

Lord, help me to keep You in the proper place in my life, surrendered to Your leading and seeking You throughout each day.  Continue to show me Your fingerprints on all the blessings and challenges that come my way so that I can praise You in everything!  You have blessed me beyond measure and I am sure I don’t even see half of Your work in my life.  Thank You for loving me!!!

Psalm 33- Minuscule Details

 ”We wait for the Lord; he is our help and shield. For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name.

May your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in you.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This Psalm talks about God being the creator and all of the ways He blesses His people.  It wraps up with these few verses essentially reminding us that if God has created all the earth, and cares about every detail, we can trust Him to help us with the small (and humongous) problems in our life.  We can trust Him with anything and everything.

Sometimes, I feel like there are parts of life I can handle on my own…they are insignificant, things I should be able to handle on my own.  Then I am reminded that God cares about those things too…He desires to be a part of every aspect of my life, even the minuscule details.

Lord, help me to bring You into every thought, every conversation, every decision.  Help me to consult Your Word and seek Your wisdom in everything so that You would be glorified in all that I do, say or think!

Psalm 32- Power of Forgiveness

 ”How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! 

When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat.  Selah 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Selah

Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.  Selah 

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The contrast between living in sin and confessing our sin to God is made clear.  Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace that allows me to live at peace with You!  Shatter the lies that hold me back from seeking You so that I can eternally live in your joy!