Chapter 9: 9,10

9:9-10 "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

This text focuses on David as he expressed his confidence that regardless of his circumstance that God stands with him in times of trouble.

This psalm was written out of the wealth of David's experience with God. It was not theory, or the product of idle speculation. He had experienced many successes and failures in the course of his life his and findings were conclusive. As a Shepherd boy he courageously stood before wild animals. As a young man he stood heroically in front of Goliath. As king he faced many hostile armies. Each represented what he has described as a "time of trouble." In his time of trouble he faced all of the challenges as they came with great confidence and unwavering faith.

The conclusion that David reached is that trouble and misfortune cannot be avoided. In the 27th psalm he spoke of the "time of trouble" as inevitable. Rather than expect God to keep trouble away from his door he expected God to be with him in his time of trouble. David projected that every believer should expect to be placed in a secure position to deal with trouble, hidden in the "secret of his Tabernacle" but not expect to be exempt from trouble itself. This lesson was clearly defined by the experience of Job, a righteous man who had done nothing wrong, but yet was the victim of death of family members, poverty and sickness, all caused by the influence of Satan. Yet in his trouble Job declared "yea though he slay me, yet will I serve him." David's assurances in these three psalms are that God will be with every believer in a time of trouble.

The "time of trouble" to which David refers was almost always the result of Satanic influences. He was hunted as a vagabond because evil thoughts entered the mind of Saul. He was constantly at war because Satan stirred the hearts of his enemies to attack and raid on a regular basis. The "times of trouble" that David referred to were not always of his creation, but were the result of Satan's using the people and circumstances around him to cause trouble.

David's conclusion should be that of any believer: when trouble comes, God will be my refuge and my strength. 

16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

   This text focuses on David as he gives "golden" advice about finding the path to everlasting life.
   This psalm has the title "A Mitcham of David."  Five other Psalms have a  similar title.  There is no conclusive evidence as to what exactly is meant  by 'mitcham'. Many think it refers to its literal meaning "Write in gold letters," indicating that it is truly a 'Golden Psalm.'
     One of the golden nuggets in this psalm is in verse 11: "Thou wilt show me  the path of life!"  This is the path that man has blindly groped for ever since he has been on earth.  It is a right of way into the presence of God.   The singer of this psalm tells of ONE who has found the way through, presumably a messianic reference to Christ.
   The path of life begins with our inheritance in Him (v5). David notes that those who would enjoy life to its fullest participate in the divine inheritance. They consider themselves heirs of the King and thus see life from the perspective of those who are sons and daughters of the King of Glory.  We are children of God and thus heirs to his promise made to Abraham. This is the meaning of Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
   The way of life is within the boundaries.  He has set for us. (Vs.6.). God blessed David, as he does every believer. The way of life is to know where our blessings end and those of another person's begin. An awareness of the boundaries of our blessing and its inherent limitations is a formula for life.  Each person has been given gifts and resources by God. The use of those resources with restraint demonstrates our faith in him and helps us better walk the path of life.
   The way of life depends on  guidance deep within. (Vs.7.). Those who seek the path that leads to life learn to let God guide them from within. Being led by the spirit is not an empty phrase because God is a spirit and those that worship him worship him in spirit and in truth. The way to life is to constantly be guided by the Holy Spirit in all of our daily affairs.
    The way of life is in having a single  objective. (Vs.8) Those who want to find the path to everlasting life must  make finding it  the single objective of their lives. They should never stray from it but pursue it with vigor and a sense of purpose.
    The way of life is in joy (Vs.9); even in the face of death, sickness and hardship. Those who find the path of life face life's difficulties with a sense of assurance that no matter where the path leads they will come out in God's hands on the other side. That path leads straight through death, and hell, and the grave..
    Thus, David asks God to show him the path to everlasting life. He said finding that path would guarantee him a life of joy in the presence of God and after this life, pleasure, as he sits at the right hand of God!

24:9: "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23 "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

This text focuses on a parable in which Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is available to men and women of all walks of life.

This text is one of three of teachings in chapter 14 about the kinds of people who are invited to the kingdom of God and how they are to be treated. He had been invited to the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees for dinner on the Sabbath. However, he noticed how they struggled among them for the finest and most important seats at the table. Therefore in verse 8 he gave the first teaching in which he said persons invited to a feast should not seek the seats of importance but wait to be seated. "When ye are invited go and sit down in the lowest place." Doing so, he said, would save the embarrassment of having to move when someone of more importance enters. It is better to be asked up than to be asked down. In verse 12 he makes a second point by noting that those who plan banquets usually have an invited guests list, including some and excluding others. However, he said they should invite even those people who are not favored guests who cannot repay the kindness with reciprocal banquet.

At verse 16 he told a parable that indicated the nature of the people who are invited into the kingdom of God. A certain man gave a supper and invited many people, who all, for one reason or the other began to make excuses for not attending. One said he had just bought a piece of ground and had to go see it. Another said he had just bought five yoke of oxen and he had to test them. Another said he was a newlywed and could not come. Angered at their excuses the master sent out word for his servant to bring in the poor, maimed, lame and the blind. When that was not enough the master then ordered that he go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, "that my house may be filled."

Initially the text shows how the opportunity to posses the Kingdom of God was initially presented to the Jews alone. However, the Jews rejected its message and it was thereby taken to the entire gentile world, to anyone who would hear. Secondly, it showed the importance of every person who comes to the banquet table of the Savior. Whether blind, lame, maim, Jew or Gentile, each is important and should be treated as such because they have a special invitation from the master. 

25:4-9 "Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD."

This text focuses on King David as he requests God to direct his path, protect him from his enemies and forgive his shortcomings.

David was a complex character whose personality was a mix bag of faith in God, occasional irreverence, action, strength, weakness, and conviction. His faith in God was so great that he is described as a man after God's own heart. He was described this way, although he once displayed irreverence by eating the shewbread from the temple and had an adulterous fling with Uriah's wife. David is described as a "man after God's own heart" because when his strengths and weaknesses were compared, in balance he arose as a man whose heart was honest, convictions were strong, and whose path was straight.

The path that David walked had humble beginnings. As a youth he learned responsibility shepherding his father's flock. He learned to walk courageously because of the constant prospect of attacks by lions, bears and other creatures. His was a path that took him along the trail of valor, as he courageously fought Goliath and won the praise of the people. His path was also a lonely path. He was hunted by King Saul as if he were a criminal and often hid himself in the mountains. When almost captured or surrounded in the plains of life he constantly sought solace with God. In in

Psalm 121 he wrote "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh from the Lord who made the heaven and the earth." Having walked the path of persecution and victimization, he developed a keen sensitivity to dangers that await all who must travel that way. His path was one of humility. Those who study David's life know that there were times when he took a path that strayed. However, these brief meanderings were always followed by swift returns to the right path.

Whenever David did wrong it bothered him. This was the occasion in which he prayed to God Psalm 51:10 "Create in me oh Lord, a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me." He was aware that he could not adequately set examples for others, if he himself could not master the spirit of faithfulness.

In Psalm 51:13 he noted that only after he came back to right path himself could he speak to others from a position of strength. By walking the path of humility, David proved himself rose even taller in the eyesight of God. His path was a path of accomplishment. The trail he walked carried him to great life accomplishments. David made history. He spent most of his time fighting the enemies of the people. He defeated Goliath as a boy. He rallied the downcasts, the poor and hopeless of the land and gave them hope.

He championed that cause so greatly that he was named King three times: once by God, once by Judah and once by Israel. As king his greatest accomplishment was to fight for the people. In the closing years of his life he had finally created an atmosphere where the things he wanted to do for God could be done. He had cooperation, trust and peace. He forged a coalition of trust with his generals and leaders and set out to build the land.

This text summarizes his life's quest to walk in the right path and to know the ways of God. Hear his words echoing across the centuries: "Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths!"

His request of God was that he would forgive his "transgressions," and judge him by the path he walked. 

27:9 ...thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation

This text focuses on the expressions of confidence in God that were verbalized by David. David's life is a type of the Christian
experience. As a youth he grew up in the fear of the Lord. He sung his praises in the fields as a shepherd boy, keeping his
father's flocks. He was confident that with God as his guide that the most ferocious of beasts could not defeat him as he stood to protect his father's flock. Defeating Goliath was one the great moments of his life which is remembered as a great example of
faith demonstrated. Like Christians too, David suffered undue persecution. He was hunted like a criminal and was rejected by
most of those who knew him. He, like Christians, underwent a wilderness experience in which he found himself seeking safety in the hills and mountains. Alone there he came to grips with himself and with the mission that God had in store for him. He
was helped by God to reach high heights and even while there strayed a time or two from the perfect will of God. He asked for
and received forgiveness for his sins. He is remembered as a man "after God's own heart."
  This 27th Psalm of David is an expression of his confidence that as long as God remained by his side that no danger, whether
seen or unseen, would destroy him. He felt confident that  whatever problem would arise God would empower him to overcome it and he would arise victorious. He began this series of confident expressions by noting that "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (v1). David did not expect to be shielded from trouble, but rather he expected God to deliver him out of trouble. He wrote in verse 5 "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me..." In verse 9 he looked back over the years and remembered that God had helped him so many times. The lions and bears that attacked his father's sheep were just types of the big enemies he would face as he assumed the leadership of God's people as their king. God helped him then, he would be successful in this new endeavor as well, as long as God stayed by his side. David said "thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." His confidence is expressed even further as he pointed out that he expected God's support  even when his parents couldn't come through for him.
  David's conclusion as he faced the new challenges of his life was to face the unknown with courage and confidence. He said he would "wait on the Lord" (v14) because God would strengthen his heart and empower him to triumph over any adversity that might come his way.

31:15 "My times are in thy hand.."

This text focuses on the truth that regardless of the times, God is still in control.

David, whose life experiences God used as an example in this text, was a man of many triumphs but also a man of many troubles. In that sense, he was a picture of Christ in that he endured difficulty and trouble. There is a distinction however. Much of David's trouble after he became King resulted from his own sins. Christ endured difficulty not for his sins but for those of mankind.

While enduring considerable difficulty himself, David reached out to God saying "my times" are in thy hand. His circumstance, environment, situation and burden were not in his hand but were in the hands of God. In such hands he was safe and secure.

33:20-21(TLB) "We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield. No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting him. We trust his holy name!"

This text focuses on David as he concludes that is better to trust in the Lord than the implements of men.

The 33rd Psalm is a tribute to the wonderful works of God, which should give reason for continuous trust and praise by those who believe in him. Each new and successive year causes new challenges and new opportunities for believers to demonstrate their faith and for God to show his power. Each new victory should be complemented with a new song, sung loudly, proudly and victoriously because it marks the victory God has given his people. In verse three David notes that we should sing a "new song" for every new chapter of our existence.

God is worthy of this new round of praise because he made the heavens and the earth by simply uttering the words (v6). His majesty is displayed in the universe in ways that constantly display his greatness. He has proven himself both dependable and consistent even when the devices, philosophies and counsels of men have proven themselves insufficient (v10-11).

The people who depend upon God and not their own resources are blessed. They are blessed because their trust has been placed in a dependable source that will not forsake them. Even the most dependable devices of men have proven unreliable. In verse 16 he notes that mighty kings, though surrounded by multitudes of people and soldiers are not invulnerable to attack or assassination. A king that depends on these devices for his security alone will find them useless without God.

In verse 17 he notes that though a warrior may go into battle riding a great war horse, it cannot protect him in battle, either by shielding him with his great size or by carrying him to safety by its great strength. The protection comes from the Lord, not from the horse itself.

God keeps a close watch on all those who believe in him and trust in him. Those who look to God for deliverance and mercy; those who depend upon him, have the assurance of knowing he can protect them from life threatening situations and bring them through any hard times that might come (v19).

Therefore David said he would continue to "wait" or "depend" on God in the present as he has in the past for he has proven himself to be a shield and a very present help in a time of trouble.

We will rejoice in his great works again because we depended upon him. He will not let us down, because he is a God that is dependable! 

36:6-9 "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust undeer the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."

This text focuses on David explaining the reason believers trust in God.

The keys that unlock the wisdom of David's words lie in several of its key phrases.

How Excellent: Excellent is the translation of Hebrew word "yaqar" which also means valuable and costly. In this context the word "excellent" describes the nature of God with respect to caring for the believer. The quality of his care, if translated into monetary terms would be invaluable and inestimatable.

Loving kindness: Loving kindness is the English translation of the Hebrew word "Checed" which also means mercy, good deeds, kindness and favor. On some occasions "Checed" is even used to mean "reproof." The good deeds that God performs are often heralded as examples of his loving kindness. The many acts of mercy, answered prayers and other considerations shown believers are generally listed as indicators of the lovingkindness of God. However, there are times when believers go astray and endanger themselves both spiritually or physically. In these times God often reproofs us. However, if these rebukes are necessary, they too are described as a part of God's loving kindness.

Trust: From the word "chacah" which also means, "confide in" and "seek refuge in", and "hope in", the meaning of trust is reflected in all three of the common uses. To trust God is to feel comfortable sharing intimacies with him. These intimacies are of such that they can be shared without fear that they will ever be divulged. To trust God is also to seek refuge, escape and protection in him. He will protect believers that seek his help and provide for them a place of consideration. To trust God is also to continuously hope for better days and better conditions. This hope is based on faith that God will always do what is good, just and right for the believer.

David notes that the believer who trusts God will always be satisfied. The term used for satisfied is "ravah" which also means abundantly, or saturated or drunk. Trusting God does not always result in riches, fame or glory. However, trusting God does result in a deep satisfaction with oneself and with life. That sense of satisfaction can only come from God. We are promised to be "drunk" with satisfaction, fully saturated or drowned in satisfaction.

When God says trust me he asks believers to place their confidence, hope and faith in him. In return he promises that their satisfaction will be higher than they ever expected. 

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David's 36th Psalm is one which encourages believers to continue trusting God who continuously blesses mankind with everything that is good and meaningful. In verses one through four he lays out the lifestyle of the ungodly: wild, deceitful and wicked. The ungodly spend their lives wastefully, as if there were no God and no judgment. His mouth is filled with evil words and his thoughts filled with evil deceptions.

When the wicked are sleep at night they dream of the wicked things they will act upon when they awake. The wicked set themselves on a path that is not good. The idea of God as the fountain of life and the source of all lasting happiness and peace is used several times in scripture. In Jeremiah 2:13 the people are chastised for seeking their own fountains of life: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns that can hold no water." The people sought vainly to find ways provide happiness, joy and life without God. They spent their substance and time seeking after it. But their efforts were vain and futile because each time they came close to finding this fountain of life outside of God, it disappeared. Their efforts were like water barrels filled with holes. It left them thirsty and empty. In contrast, David shows the attitude of believers in verses five through 12.
David praises the magnificence of God. He praises God's providence. He praises God's benevolence. The believer is blessed to constantly drink from God's fountain which provides the essence of things that make life beautiful, pleasant, comfortable and joyful. In the middle of his troubles Job saw this fountain and chastised his critics by saying, "He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds." Job 20:17.

In Psalm 46:4 David projects that this fountain of God's blessing flows through the hearts of believers. He said "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High."

37:3-5: Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

While the law of Moses told Israel not to put their trust in witches and fortunes and other forms of evil, the text of Psalm 37 encourages every believer to trust in God, wholly and completely. The Psalm begins by warning believers not to be influenced by those who practice evil. Their methods appear correct, but soon they will be destroyed.

Believers are encouraged to trust in God for their food, protection and the desires of their heart. Trusting God, means placing in God that whatever he does is in their best interest. In this context Israel underwent considerable difficulty never losing hope that God would restore them to their homeland. They were encouraged to trust God and to commit their way to him, rather than search for the answers they wanted to hear from fortune tellers and magicians and witches.

39:4 : “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am”

   The 39th Psalm paints a picture of a quiet elderly saint, who had lived a measured life.
   The psalm, written by David, is a testimony of a good life lived before God. It is a picture of the mature saint who has learned to measure days and remain at peace despite the storms of life that rage.
   Though enemies surround the saint and troubles appear on every hand, David said in verse two, "I was dumb with silence, I held my peace."  The quiet saint David described was sometimes difficult to measure for the quiet saint was silent even in good times, praising God within, and occasionally a show of expression gave a hint to the fire that burned on the inside.
   The quiet saint referred to was David himself, who had earned the right to speak in retrospect. God had been good to him and opened many doors for him. There were times when he could have spoken out against enemies but held his peace. On other occasions he could have lifted a hand against his adversaries, but he remained silent. Then in his senior years, David recognized that his life was measured. In verse five he notes, "Behold thou has made my days as a handbreath." that is, they are short and easily measured. A hand breadth is the amount of space that one hand covers, minus the thumb. Like the four seasons, of spring, summer, autumn and winter, his life is but a hand breath.
   The measured life is one that recognizes the omnipotence of God in every respect. It is measured in hand breaths of spiritual qualities that indicate the nature of one's spiritual walk, including faith, humility, service and salvation. These four mark the measure of the saved life.

40:2-3" He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

This text focuses on David as he explains the joys of his relationship with God.

David lived a life that is best described as a spiritual roller coaster, complete with times of great faith and spiritual strength and other times of great weakness. Here he looks intently upon the way that God caught him at one of the weak moments in his life and lifted him to a new and better experience.

The allegory used in this text is that of a mud filled pit and rock.

In describing his spiritual state David said he had been in a horrible pit. In today's context, "horrible" connotes scary, insufferable, or terrifying. Today "horrible" suggest imminent danger and the presence of pain and suffering. However, a closer look at the word "horrible" in this passage reveals that it had an additional meaning in this specific instance, which was "noisy" or "confusion." The descriptive term preceding "pit" therefore suggests that David was in a pit of confusion, hearing the noise of many voices..The result of this confusion is great fear, which is the root cause of horror.

Moreover, the situation was further complicated because not only was he in a confused state, but his was standing in "miry" clay. "Miry" is distinguished from regular clay because the term "miry" means "dregs" or "muddy." His spiritual state had deteriorated to a point of reaching the "dregs." He was standing in the mud of life. It was unsure, unsafe and dangerous.

A third allegory is that of a rock.

David said his feet were placed upon a rock. There is no descriptive adjective preceding "rock" because it is not necessary. The meaning is in the word itself. Rock, in this context, is the Hebrew word "Cela" which means a high or lofty place. A fortress. David said God set his feet upon a rock. It is important to note that the rock upon which he stood was not in the mud, or in the pit, but it was outside the pit. In fact, it was high above the pit. In his struggle to get out of the pit, his feet did not find a rock in the middle of the mud. He was lifted out of his circumstance by a power outside the confusion and mud of the pit.

Thus David stood at a point in his life where he was confused by different voices or noises, caught in the dregs and mud of life. From this circumstance God lifted him to a new and joyous life, high above the pit and the mud. This experience gave him a new song to sing. It is a great testimony to the goodness of God because those who see it will know that it comes direct from God. 

42:10-11:"As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

This text is extracted from a Psalm of David given to the sons of Korah to sing in worship.

David often reflected upon the goodness of God and wrote his divinely inspired reflections in songs or Psalms. Two sets of his psalms were given to the Sons of Korah, a special family of Levites that concentrated on the singing ministry. Although there is debate as to the particulars, generally Psalm 42-49; and 84-89 are viewed as being those given to the sons of Korah.

Korah led a faction that rebelled against Moses in the book of Numbers. All of his descendants except a small few were killed. These sons of Korah, despite the rebellious nature of their ancestors dedicated themselves to singing.

David gave them this 42nd psalm to set to music. It was written during a period of distress when he did not have access to the house of worship. Many believe that it was written during the persecution period when King Saul hunted him.

In this psalm he referred to how his soul longed to be in the house of God one more time. In verse 2 he spoke of thirsting for God and yearning after his presence. He continues that thought through verse 4 where he speaks fondly of times when he was able to be with the multitudes that worshiped.

While being separated from God and possibly hunted, his enemies constantly surrounded him with biting comments asking him "where is thy God." In verse 10 he noted that daily he was criticized by skeptics whose words were like a sword in his bones. They constantly asked, "Where is they god?"

You sang "There is my shepherd, I shall not want!" Where is thy God?

You sang "I will life up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help" Where is thy God?

You sang "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" Where is thy God?

David said the words of his critics surrounded him. His soul reached a low point. However in verse 11 he came to himself and became spiritually alive as he remembered the power of God.

He asked himself "why am I disquieted" or anxious or uneasy? Others may have questions about God's whereabouts and give up hope when circumstances are troublesome, but not the faithful. The faithful live in continuous hope, knowing that God is not far away.

He resolved that he should continue to hope and trust in the Lord who is the health of his countenance, or the reason for his upward climb in life. Despite the critics he would cling to God as the author and finisher of his faith. 

72:17-18: "His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things."

This text considers David as he speaks of the wonderful works of God that deserve continuous uninterrupted praise.

David, in an inaugural style psalm, tells his son Solomon the importance of continuous praise and service to God for he is worthy of praise. In a Messianic phrase that begins at verse two and ends at close of the psalm, David testifies to the greatness of God and to the beauty of Christ's reign as the Messianic Lord.

In verse 17, which is the focus of this text, David said our Lord's name will endure forever and his name "shall be continued!" The Hebrew word used for continued is NUWN (Noon) which means to re-sprout or shoot out repeatedly! The indication is that there will be times when circumstances will attempt to eliminate his name from the face of the earth, but regardless to what is done it will continuously re-sprout and shoot out again. Men will continuously be blessed by him.

Locked into the meaning of this simple phrase "shall be continued" was the secret of David's success as King, which he was passing on to his son. In his own life there had been moments when he was brought low, both in the eyes of men and in his own eyes. Despite his circumstance, David continued to re-sprout in his praise to God. When he was hunted by Saul. He found safety only in the hills. Prompting him to write "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord who made the heaven and the earth." Despite being hunted as a vagabond, David re-sprouted and praised God more. When he was caught up in sin with Bathsheba and reached a low moral point in his life, he reached another low point. Here again, re-sprouted and saying "restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and renew in me a right spirit!" When his son was ill, he reached such a low point that he covered himself in ashes and sat in mourning every day, tears flowing from his eyes. However, once his son died, he arose, washed himself and re-sprouted, continuing his duties. Those who did not understand him wondered how this could be so. He responded by saying when there was hope that the child might live he mourned, but once God acted there was no reason to mourn. "I can go to him, but he cannot come to me."

In these contexts David's life was the epitome of re-sprouting and continuously giving God praise. This quality is what he hoped to give his son Solomon who would follow him on the thrown. This is the quality that faced each hardship, setback and letdown with a notation "to be continued" or "I shall return." It is an attitude molded and shaped by a lifetime of trusting and believing in God.

David said God would be praised continuously by the faithful, we would be retarded in the movement but would re-sprout to praise the Lord as long as there is a sun in the sky. Why will this happen? Because God only does wondrous things and those who believe in him know this truth and place trust in him continuously, despite their circumstance. 

86:1-7: Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for  I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplicati ons.  In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

  This text focuses on David as he speaks to God concerning the desires of his heart.
   The Psalms are unique expressions of prayer and praise that reflect the thoughts of the mind and the meditations of the heart. Most of  the psalms are David's work. God gave him the gift of capturing the emotions of his full life's varied experiences and putting them in beautiful lyrical terms.
   These became the psalm book or hymn book of Israel. Many of these psalms were written to be sung in public. They are often prefaced by the title, "To the chief choirmaster" or "To the choirmaster, " and in some of our Bibles is the word "Maskil" which is simply the Hebrew word for "psalm." You may be interested to know that one psalm, Psalm 90, was written by Moses, and two were composed by King Solomon. Still others were written by a nameless group called the sons of Korah who were especially charged with leading the singing of Israel. Also, a man named Asaph wrote many of the psalms, and even good King Hezekiah wrote ten of them. As you look into the book of Psalms, you can see that in many cases the titles refer to the author
   This section of the Psalm, Psalm 73 through Psalm 89, focuses on  the discovery of what God is like when man comes before him and what he himself is like in the presence of God. It  is the book that reveals the inner workings of man's heart: we see his need, his deep consciousness of his own sin, and the discovery of what God offers to do about it. They represent pattern of thought from  psalms, 73 through 89, that shows man's awareness of God's judgment in the inner heart. Psalm 78 is a record of God's unbending love: although God loves man, he will never let him get away with anything. He never compromises, he never bends; he gives in to man's plea for mercy, but is absolutely relentless in cutting away sin. Then, when man is ready to acknowledge his sin, and to agree with God's judgment concerning sin, God deals with him in love. Psalm 81 describes the new strength that God offers man, and Psalm 84 wonderfully portrays the continuous provision that God offers us.
  David uses many musical devices to accomplish the goal of setting his meditations to God to music. One of the devices is the use of the phrase "O Lord!" Throughout the Psalms the phrase is used to express a variety of feelings that range from happiness to sadness, from courage to fear. Much of the Old Testament uses this phrase similarly. With the exception of references in the Book of Revelation, the New Testament almost solely uses the phrase associated with "pleas for mercy."
  Regardless of the context, the phrase "O Lord" was an announcement of expectation. Even if it was included in a plea for mercy or a recitation of an uncomfortable circumstance, it was bursting with hope. In some contexts it may appear an expression of pessimism, however it later proved that it was an expression of current conditions but also an expression of anticipation.
  There are five "O's" in the first seven verse of the 86 Psalm alone. Each accompany an independent plea for help, mercy and gratitude. They are cheerful, expectant and full of gladness. They reflect the make up of the "O's" throughout the bible. Those who use them never cease to have faith that God will help them triumph over any circumstance.

Book 88: 12, 13, 14

88:12-14"Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? "

The 88th Psalm of David, is rarely read or referenced. While most of the Psalms are inspirational in nature, the 88th Psalm is solemn. It was written at time when David was at a spiritual low. He had suffered emotionally and possibly physically. He felt himself sinking in the sea of life. At best, he was struggling to keep his head above water.

This psalm presents the believer who is struggling to make it through the night but has lost hope, in the midst of the darkness, that God would deliver him. No where in this psalm does David indicate that he believes God will help him make through this dark period. It is only filled with expressions of difficulty for the troubles he faced. In verse 12 he asks the question, "shall thy wonders be known in the dark?"

He gives a continuous litany of dismay and hopelessness that recites his afflictions and difficulty. The 88th psalm is a striking contrast to the other Psalms. They express hope, joy and faith that God responds in a time of trouble. The other 149 psalms always strike a chord of hope that despite the darkness, God is able.

This psalm represents those occasional moments, when even strong believers find themselves distracted from the faith. In verse 15 David says he had been dealing with one affliction, trouble or another since his youth. Now he is distracted or unfocused. He wants to believe differently but can't. He wants to get back on track but finds it difficult.

It is described as the saddest of the psalms because it presents a picture of a strong believer who is down in the dumps and can't see his way out! It represents those times when normally strong believers are weak; when the highly visible become invisible; when the intensely active become inactive. It is a time when a believer is overcome by the dark!

David did not stay in his depressed condition, but the psalm suggests that all believers can reach such a point. They are restored when they, like David,ask God to renew a right spirit within them. 

Number 92: 1

92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name.

David, the writer of this 92nd Psalms suggests 92:2 that the reason that we sing should be that we want to show God's loving kindness to us both in the morning and in the night.

David suggests that there are three reasons we should sing!

Because We Are Happy. In verse four he says we should sing because we are happy! Because we know the joy of the Lord in our lives.

Because We Will Triumph

Secondly, we should sing because we will triumph in the works of our

hands. During the course of life most of us have something that we hope to achieve before we go to be with God! There are lessons we want prepare our children, grand children and god children, to provide for themselves.

We want to leave a legacy behind us that testifies to a life well spent! We want to live to a ripe old age with a reasonable portion of health and strength.

Those who sing, in the privacy of their homes, in the church choir, or while they drive their automobiles, do so because they know that the victory has already been declared! They know they have already won!

Because of God's Great Works

Thirdly, we should sing because of the great works of the Lord!

When we think about how good God has been good to us we can't help but to lift our voices in song. 

Number 105: 1

105:1 David, the author of the text verse, had many reasons to give thanks to God.

He had risen from a mere shepherd boy to a national hero after the slaying of Goliath and in his adult years he had risen to become the king of Israel. Along the way, he sinned, was stricken with disease and was told that the one big dream of his life: to build a temple for the Lord would not be done in his life time.

When David made an assessment of his life he concluded that he had much to be thankful for and he penned, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, this 105th Psalm. In verse 5 David suggests that those who think they have little to be thankful for, should "remember his marvelous works that he hath done: his wonders and the judgments of his mouth." David's admonition to Israel is that it consider the source of its blessings and remember, with gratitude.

His plea is summed up in the little rhyme: "When drinking from the stream remember the spring." The stream is the constant flow of blessings that we receive every day, but the spring is the bubbling source that feeds the stream that we drink from daily." God is the source of all our blessings although they may have traveled a great distance and rounded many meandered corners to make their arrival within our grasp.

Number 106:1,2

106:1,2 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

     This text focuses on David as he recounts the ways that God blessed Israel, despite themselves, prompting him to conclude that God is deserving of thanks and praise.
     Generally, the 106th Psalm is a historical narrative of the many ways that God blessed Israel despite their own stubbornness and tendency toward unfaithfulness and sin. It recounts God's blessings from the point of their liberation from Egypt to their arrival in the promised land. As their national history is recounted, their own flawed experience is revealed and God's charity and mercy is seen clearly.
     Beginning at verse 7 David began the recount. He noted how God blessed Israel in Egypt, even though the people did not clearly understand the various ways that God was dealing with them in their experience. The phrases, "understood not" and "remembered not" are given as the reason for their constant frustration.
     David's recounting of God's action, looking at each one slowly and meticulously, revealed what the people could not understand and did not remember. It showed that in moments when they felt God had forsakened or abandoned them, God was actually blessing them. At the Red Sea, for example, it appeared that God had brought them out of Egypt to allow them to die at the hands of the Egyptians. They did not understand how God works. Even when God opened the Red Sea and they crossed on dry land, they still did not understand completely how God was blessing them.
    They complained that God was helping their enemies to triumph over them, until the recount. However, at verse 10, after the recount they saw how God defended their cause and defeated their enemies.
    As they wandered in the wilderness, they couldn't see how that was a blessing, until they recounted it! After the recount they realized that God was preparing them as a nation for a greater blessing that was to come.
    When they had no food, they complained that God had forsaken them. After the recount, they remembered how God provided both bread and meat for them in midst of their wilderness experience.
     In the process of recounting, they saw some things they didn't like about themselves, which increased the importance of God's blessings in their own sight. Verses 13 and 14 show how the people soon forgot about God and lusted after their own pursuits in the wilderness. When they considered their own stubbornness, then they realized what a blessing God had bestowed upon them, despite themselves.
     Verses 21-22 make it abundantly clear that the people rushed to judge God without counting  the great things he did for them in Egypt, such as providing protection for them in the Land of Goshen where their crops grew and the terrain was protected for plagues, drought or pestilences. Many among them only saw the fact that they were slaves. They did not count how God blessed and sustained them despite their servitude. Many saw the Red Sea as a stumbling block against the success, but not how God acted at the Red Sea. Many saw the high, walled cities of the Promised land, but did not count how God made those walls come tumbling down.
     Verse 43 sums up a litany of instances in which God blessed the people, but they provoked him by ignoring him and plunging into iniquity.
     When the final count was complete in verse 48, David declared, "Bless be the Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting. Let all the people said Amen. Praise the Lord!"

Book 107: 2,3,4,5,6

107:2-6 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses."

This text focuses on David as he advises those who have been redeemed by God to express it in their lives.

This psalm is part of a trilogy of psalms which extoll the greatness of God and demonstrate his mercies. This Psalms simply speaks of how good God has been to Israel and how praising him for his goodness is a natural response.

This Psalm is best appreciated in good times. It is anachronistic in its approach. That it is, it telescopes its focus over both recent and distant history and catalogs all that God has done as evidence of his goodness. The catalog of merciful deeds is the foundation and reason given why God should be praised. Unlike other Psalms, such as 121, which are read best in times of trouble, or 37 which is read best when trouble by the presence of evil and doubt, this Psalm is celebratory in that it celebrates the goodness of God.

Verse two of this text summarizes the theme of the trilogy: "Let the redeemed of the Lord, Say So!" It characterizes the good deeds that God has done in our lives as worthy of acknowledgement.

As if Israel needed a reminder David takes the time to retell Israel's story. He described their lives as a wandering nation of nomads, fresh from slavery and ignorant to the demands of life and survival. They wandered from place to place for 40 years and found no city in which to rest, no new clothing for the backs and no supply of food and water that was not provided by the hand of God directly.

When they hungered and thirst, they cried unto God and he provided their needs. He sustained them and protected them against enemies and against themselves. In their distress, they called upon him and he answered them by becoming their refuge and their strength.

David further recounts that after they wandered for 40 years following their own way and failed to reach the promised land how he took them by the hand and led them the "right way."

In verse eight he sums up the reason that men should "Say So!" They should "say so" because of his "wonderful works to the children of men."

Thus the Israel of Old Testament times had a reason to show forth the goodness of God intertwined into their national fabric. He brought them from slavery to the promised land and presided over the conquering efforts to claim the land of promise. 

116:7-9  :Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living."

  Here, David as he reflects upon the bounty that God has given him both materially and spiritually.
  This Psalm was written during a period in which the entire nation of Israel was celebrating a period of thanksgiving for the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant had great significance to Israel. It was a golden box, elaborately designed to represent the presence of God in the nation. It contained the original ten commandments carved in stone and a pot of manna which Israel survived upon in the wilderness for 40 years. For the nation of Israel the Ark was so important that wars were fought to protect it, retain it or get it returned.
   The enemies of Israel stole the Ark on many occasions. The ark was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4). When the stolen Ark came to rest in the cities of Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron the enemies of Israel came to fear it because they were plagued with disease, sickness and death because of its captured presence.  The Lord vanquished Dagon and spread bubonic plagues among them until they eventually returned the Ark to Israel.
    Once the Ark was returned to Israel David attempted to bring it back to Jerusalem but was stricken with fear when of the son's of Abinadad touched and dropped dead. David hid the ark in the home of  a friend for three months. When he learned that the friend had been blessed because of the Ark's presence he had it brought back to Jerusalem.
    A national Thanksgiving celebration was underway as David came home to give thanks to God for the return of the Ark and for all his mercies shown to the people. He asked at verse 12 "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" At verse 17 he responds " I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the Lord."
     The three sections of this text serve as an outline for David's life, especially when viewed in reverse order.
     Psalm 116:9: "I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living," notes David's resolve to walk before God while he has health and strength.
     Psalm 116:8 "For thou hast delivered by soul..."; notes the point in which God forgive David for his spiritual indiscretions, and calmed his fears and guided his footsteps during the course of his life.
     Psalm 116:7 "For thou has dealt bountifully with thee," finds David responding to the success  God gave him in life. Starting from a lowly existence and rising to a position of prominence.
     Finally David notes that such a soul can return and be at rest. The initial statement of the passage, is a summary of his spiritual journey. He had reached a point in which he was spiritually at rest having lived and achieved. He gave thanks to God for being at peace with himself and with God.

Book 137: 4

137:4 How shall we sing the Lord's Songs in a strange land?

Our text finds the children of Israel a long ways from home. They had been captured by the Babylonians and carried into slavery. Quartered between the rivers of Chebar and Ulai they spent most of their days in mourning and in despair over the destruction of Jerusalem.

This 137 Psalm describes their anguish. It describes their despair and it describes their loneliness for home. They had reached a point so low in their spirits that they had hung their harps upon the weeping willow trees as a symbolic gesture that even their harps were too sad to bring forth a joyful note.

These harps were those that rejoiced in melodies... Saul has killed his thousands, but David his 10,000. These harps, that extolled in the 149th Psalm "Sing unto the Lord a new song."

These harps, which echoed in the 138th Psalm "I will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.."

These harps, which reverberated in the 124th Psalm "If it had not been for the Lord on our side..."

These harps, now lay silently on the willow trees. Israel could not sing the Lord's song in babylon for a number of reasons.

There were those who could not sing because they were homesick. The social conditions around them had changed.

The familiar customs and synagogue faces to which they had become acquainted over the years had changed. Things simply were not like they used to be...they were in a strange land, and found it difficult to sing because they were homesick.

Book 139:1,2,3,4

139:1-4: ".. thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."

This text focuses on David as he explains how God's understanding is universal.

Psalm 139 is the last of five Psalms that offer thanks to God for being a wonderful presence in the life of the believer. David expressed that in every walk of life that God is present and knowledgeable of what we do and say. The main theme of Psalm 139 is the fact that always understands everything there is to understand about us. He knows the thoughts of our minds before we think them. He also knows every word spoken from our lips or conceived in our hearts. Geography and language are natural barriers that prohibit man from progressing but they do not hinder God. There is never an instance when God cannot understand us.