These are notes collected from studying with brothers in Christ. Anything good comes from the Lord. Everything else is from us!
Psalm 51
“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being.” (Ps. 51:6) ~ I think that really hits some of what I’ve read in the first 15 chapters for this week. Lots of rawness and honesty–about his sin, about where his enemies are in sin, about what He’s seeking God for, etc. It just doesn’t seem very “politically correct” a lot of what he’s saying…not all that polished…and that endears me to it the most (because here’s a guy like me, I can relate with).
Psalm 57
“Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.”
Psalms 57:1
This where I am at these days…taking refuge in the Lord. It reminds me of abiding in the Lord and not trusting in ourselves.
Psalm 62
Psalm 62 stood out to me:
v.1-2: “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation”v. 9 “Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing”v.11-12 “One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”David is showing some eternal perspective here. Our peace and comfort in life comes from being assured of God’s love for us and the salvation he offers. I love the idea in v.9 that our worldly status means absolutely nothing to God.
Psalm 66-67
I think that something I’m seeing here is how much God is truly in control.
“God rules forever by his power, he eyes watch the nations–” (Ps 66:7)
“You rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth” (67:4)
This is what drives the Psalmists to prayer. If God is the one who holds the hearts, the keys, the nations, etc. then you’d be foolish to try to change things by changing people. You’d go to God over them.
Quick story: We didn’t get a house we offered on a month or so ago. It was a bummer, and I wished I could “get the ear” of the seller to “convince” him that we’d be good buyers from the home (and even make a better offer than we initially did). And then all at once I was convicted and in tears. God showed me that I spent time thinking about how to “gain the ear” of this man, but all the while God owns the house. He’s offered his ear (on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice). I needed to repent and seek Him, not any man. That moment was what the Psalms are all about, IMHO.
Psalm 79-80
Psalm 79:6:
“Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;”
Psalm 80:6:
“You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.”
Notice that God’s people are the ones put through the ringer! Reminds me of Heb 12 – God disciplines his TRUE children; those He loves. It turns everything upside down. We complain and wonder where is God when bad things happen. But we’ll meet Him and He’ll show how the discipline and struggles He put us through were actually a sign of His love and favor. And it’s at those times He has been the nearest to us.
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