These are notes collected from studying with brothers in Christ. Anything good comes from the Lord. Everything else is from us!
Psalm 1 – God’s Word
I love how Psalm 1 sets the stage with a focus on hearing and meditating on God’s word. The Psalms are all prayers and praises to God we say, so it’s fitting that before we plunge into speaking to God, we first HEAR God and THEN speak.
In fact, all of these Psalms are Gods word teaching us to pray. So in reality it’s all an exercise in hearing God’s word FIRST, and THEN praying along those lines. So much “prayer” today seems so different than biblical praying, and we wonder why God doesn’t respond like He did in the Bible! Maybe if we prayed more biblically we’d see God respond more biblically.
Psalms 1 is so powerful! Blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord and mediates on His law day and night.
We can’t take our eyes of it…
David Turns to God
I’m really struck by David’s confidence in God and his turning to Him for help. I’m quite sure none of us have come close to dealing with the dangers and threats David faced. But here he is in the secret place doing all the fighting there!
Psalm 14
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Psalm 14:3
Humbling that Romans 3 applies this to all of us. Not “those” people over there, but “us” right here AND “those” over there.
We are all guilty. All fall down to consider how worthy and gracious to save any of us—even one of us is a miracle when you see our depravity for what it is as exposed in the Bible. Praise Him for the gospel!!!!
Psalm 15
I’ve been thinking a bit about Psalm 15:2-5…
Our stability is directly connected with our integrity. On an absolute scale, this means we have ultimate peace and stability only by being covered with Jesus’ ultimate righteousness. But while we walk out our calling in Jesus in the life, we can experience some of this stability by walking in our own integrity (by the Holy Spirit).
Here are some specifics:
- speak truth (v. 2)
- don’t slander (v.3)
- don’t hold grudges against others (v. 3)
- oppose sin and those who practice it (v. 4)
- honor those who follow righteousness (v. 4)
- when you pledge you’ll do something, follow through, even if it costs you a lot (v. 4)
- loan out money without charging interest (v. 5)
- don’t mistreat innocent people, even if you could get personal gain to do so (v. 5)
Psalm 16
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
Psalm 17
I have never really noticed Psalms 17:14-15 before but love the perspective it offers from David:
Deliver my soul from men of the world whose portion is this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children and they leave their abundance to infants. As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
”I love the perspective this offers. The Lord has been stretching me lately to focus on the eternal. Not something as temporary as leaving an Inheritance to my kids…
Also… this has been a fantastic reminder that while I can work hard to be financially free and have a great inheritance for my kids , that is not where my hope and satisfaction are.
Psalm 19
Psalms 19:13 is such a good prayer for us.
As mentioned above, I love the idea of praying the Psalms/scripture:
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!
Psalm 19:13
Psalm 22
Psalm 22 stood out to me today.
I am poured out like water,
Psalm 22:14
and all my bones are out of joint.
All my bones are on display;
Psalm 22:17-18
people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
It would have been interesting to grow up singing and memorizing the Psalms as a Jew in Jesus’ time, and then to see them actually come to life through Jesus’ life.
Reading Psalm 22 makes me grateful for Jesus and what he endured in order to offer us salvation. Or think also of Isaiah 53, and so man others!
This is slightly different, but still really good: There’s a book called The Bronze Bow. Won Newberry medal in 1962–really good read! But it’s an historical fiction account of a child living in the time of Jesus. He was sort of a zealot, as I recall, was looking at Scripture and how to fulfill it, but was really intrigued by Jesus and his run-ins with him. I think it’s great from what I remember
Psalm 29
Psalm 29 stood out to me this morning, especially the power of the LORD on display.
- v. 3 “the God of glory thunders”
- v. 4 “the voice of the LORD is powerful”
- v. 5 “the voice of the LORD breaks the cedars”
- v. 9 “the voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.”
We serve THE all powerful God. To him be the glory!
Consider God’s power, but also the power specifically in His word.
I think a lot about proud people (including me, sadly) standing like cedar trees. But God’s word can break them down. I’ve seen it in my own life and in others!
Psalm 34
Love all Psalms 34 (a classic) but 13/14 speaking to me tonight:
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:13-14
More for the Lord and Me
OH man…there’s been SUCH GOOD STUFF from the Psalms this week for me. I can’t begin to describe how much they have spoken to me on all sorts of things. Was hoping to write out some of these here, but time will not permit. Regardless, I praise the Lord for this word. And some sweet and deep stuff will have to be between Him and I for now
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