Meditations on the Psalms

Joy was the result of a miracle: The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!(verse 1). The leader they prayed for did not win the battle owing to his own strength, chariots and horses (Psalm 20:7), but owing to Your strength and Your salvation, O Lord. Our human vanity makes the strings of our harps lose tone, and start producing flat tunes. His strength and salvation, however, stretch the strings of our harps, making us sing the songs of salvation and miraculous victory with joy, because Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6). For our hearts shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name (Psalm 33:21). Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Joy was the result of an answered prayer: You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips(verse 2). Desire means a deeply seated urge, not just a passing fancy. Also the Hebrew word for request could also be interpreted as "inheritance". So his request was not merely a hope, but a true, indisputable fact. Jesus said to His disciples, With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (Luke 22:15), which He actually did. Solomon said, The desire of the righteous will be granted (Proverbs 10:24). God fulfilled this holy desire and answered his plea.

The word "Selah" comes at the end of the second verse, as if to stop us for a while in order to meditate on how the prayer was answered, so that we would be encouraged to pray more(John 16:24).

Joy was the result of God's providence: For You meet him with blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head(verse 3). God Himself is pictured as having gone out to meet him with all the goodness of success, as fulfilment of the saying A good blessing will come upon them (Proverbs 24:25). Some people have blessings but they abuse them. Yet, there are good blessings that come from the Lord to those who walk in goodness. The word "meet" can be translated precede or go before. It was customary in ancient Israel for a shepherd to go before the sheep, and Christ said that His sheep hear His voice, that He knows them and they follow Him (John 10:3-5). The Lord goes before the believers carrying the blessings of goodness for them, and they follow Him rejoicing in His surpassing providence.

Then the Lord set a crown of pure gold on the king's head, as a declaration of the renewal of his kingship over his people that prays for him. Likewise, the Lord sets crowns of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), crowns of life (James 1:12; Revelations 2:10), and crowns of glory (1 Peter 5:4)on the heads of His faithful believing servants. They are crowns of gold (Revelations 4:4). I wonder if any believer deserves all this? Christ carried on His head a crown of thorns to give us a crown of gold, endured shame and dishonour to give us glory and honour. Let us give thanks to our good God with all joy!

Joy was the result of receiving eternal life: He asked life from You, and You gave it to him- length of days forever and ever(verse 4). This means that God lengthened the years of the king's life, made its quality deeper, imparting him with a fruitful and prosperous life. Moreover, He gave him length of days forever. God gives us eternal life that lasts "forever and ever" when Christ enters our hearts, and our life becomes His life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent (John 17:3; cf. John 3:14-16). At that time we will enjoy eternal life, because the eternal One who dwells within us makes the perishable imperishable, and endows it with immortality!

King Hezekiah received fifteen years more than his life time (Isaiah 38:5) but eventually died. Lazarus received an unknown number of years after Christ raised him from the grave (John 11:43), but he died again. Obviously the physical life perishes, but we receive an eternal, endless life, when Christ dwells in our heart.

Joy was the result of receiving honour and majesty: His glory is great in Your salvation; honour and majesty You have placed upon him(verse 5). Glory, honour and majesty are all divine attributes, which He bestows upon the victorious king to lift up his head. Today we realise that our glory, honour and majesty are in the fruit of the Holy Spirit; which is love, joy, peace, and long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. As Christ enters our hearts, He gives us eternal life and the Holy Spirit starts to bear fruit in us, which is the essence of majesty. "Love" starts to appear in us and all people get to know that we are Christ's disciples (John 13:35). The "joy of the Lord" starts to appear, too, and it becomes our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). "Peace" starts to well up within us even when we lose those who are dearest to us (2 Kings 4:26).

Dear believer, you who received Christ in your heart, if you do not have the fruit of the Spirit, please check your spiritual life, because all these blessings are yours by right, because glory, honour and majesty are the portion of all those whose names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelations 3:5).

Joy was the result of becoming a blessing to the people: For You have made him most blessed for ever(verse 6a). The Lord said to Abraham, Get out of your country...I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing (Genesis 12:1,2). Everyone who confidently, lovingly and obediently follows the Lord will receive blessings, as well as become a source of blessings to those around him. A preacher may encourage his suffering audience, because life shocks them again and they yield to their suffering once more. But there is a blessing that lasts forever, which is the blessing of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ: salvation from the sins of the past by forgiveness, from the sins of the present by sanctification and the completion of salvation in the future by entering the heavenly glories, which is the perfection of joy and gladness in the Lord's presence.

You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence(verse 6b). "To make exceedingly glad" is actually an expression meaning the animating singsong of a caravan leader that stimulates the camels to march in the arid deserts carrying their often heavy loads easily and smoothly. Likewise, the Lord gladdens the king to carry the responsibilities of government by letting him hear the singing, the chanting and the prayers of his people on his behalf him.

Joy came to stay: For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved(verse 7). Trusting means dependence on the truth of a certain news we hear, and acting on and in the light of this dependence. The king knew that God hears prayers, and experienced a great response, hence he learned to trust the Lord, and therefore he no longer doubts or is unstable. James said, He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). He who trusts the Lord and His grace, however, is stable. The world gives an impermanent sort of joy, whose sweetness may end up in bitterness and whose laughter may end up in weeping. But when the Lord gives joy, it lasts forever, because the recipient in this case trusts the Lord for its provision.

The enemies' defeat will continue because they are vulnerable: Your hand will find all your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You(verse 8). Nothing is hidden from the Lord: There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). If the enemy thinks he can make himself secure by hiding his plots from the Lord, then he is a mistaken fool and his defeat is certain!

The enemies' defeat will continue because they will be inevitably defeated: 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(verse 9). The Lord will destroy the enemies like fuel in a furnace, 'For, behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up', says the Lord of hosts, 'that will leave them neither root nor branch.' (Malachi 4:1).

The enemies' defeat will continue because their descendants will be cut off: Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men(verse 10). The wicked will not give birth to children who are as wicked as they are, either because the Lord will destroy their offspring or because the offspring will not want to walk in the ways of their wicked fathers. God is capable of doing both things. Even if the enemies think that they are the majority, they will not triumph, because the Lord will decimate their descendants them, so much that they won't be able to train or recruit other wicked people like them.

The enemies' defeat will continue because they are continually unable: For they intend evil against You; they devised a plot which they are unable to perform(verse 11). No matter what they arrange or set up, they still cannot bring it forth. Herod the Great did not think that the baby Jesus would escape his malicious intrigue of murdering all the babies of Bethlehem. But his intrigue did not succeed. Herod Agrippa did not think that the four squads (16 soldiers) would be unable to guard Peter in prison, neither did he think that the prison gates would open of their own accord. However, in His love and power, God saved Peter from the evil they had intended against him.

The enemies' defeat will continue because they will always run away: Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your strings toward their faces(verse 12). Turn their back means that God's attack against them will make them turn and run away. When they turn around again to attack God's people, the arrow will be ready on the string to hit them and turn them back again. These words may seem too optimistic, but who said that God's children should not be optimistic? They are optimistic by nature because they follow the conquering Saviour, who imparts conquest to those who belong to Him, so that they would be more than conquerors through Him who loved them (Romans 8:37).

The psalmist mentions seven reasons for rejoicing. mention them.

Give two reasons for the permanent defeat of the enemy.

The prayer of the suffering Christ (verses 1-5)

The prayer includes:

The humility of the suffering Christ (verses 6-8):

As we read these verses we wonder: Should we marvel at the cruelty of man? Or should we marvel at our Redeemer's love when He prayed for those who crucified Him, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do? (Luke 23:34). How cruel man is, and how far off greater God's love is!

The trust of the suffering Christ (verses 9-11):

But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust when I was on my mother's breast. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God.

His enemies said, He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him, and it really happened. God turned their derision into a prayer. All His past life proved that He was loved by God, and this was the content of the message that the angel brought to The Virgin Mary: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One to be born is to be called the Son of God. This is also what the angels declared to the shepherds: I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 1:35; 2:10,11).

Then He changes His question in verse 1, Why have You forsaken Me? into a request: Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. He repeats the same request in verse 19.

From the trust expressed in verses 9-11 we learn that faith carries its weapon everywhere, no matter how fierce the battle is! Therefore Christ says, by the spirit of prophecy, through Isaiah, I have trodden the wine-press alone, and from the people no one was with Me (Isaiah 63:3).

Christ's suffering at the hands of those around Him (verses 12-18):

In these verses the psalmist describes his cruel enemies, and records what they have done to him.

The supplication of the suffering Christ (verses 19-21):

After describing the cruelty of Christ's enemies and His sufferings at their hands, by the spirit of prophecy, he turned his gaze from suffering to God, and said, But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My strength, hasten to help Me (verse 19). In the severity of His weakness He calls upon the Lord.

A public call for praise (verses 22-26):

Praise blesses everybody (verses 27-31).

Psalm 22 is a prophecy of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Why can't it be about David, the author of the psalm?

In verses 29-31 the psalmist mentions three kinds of worshippers. What is the difference between them?

The relationship between the shepherd and His flock is personal: The Lord is my shepherd(verse 1). The Lord is the shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture. Now sheep are known for their weakness and stupidity. They know how to get lost, but they don't know how to return back, much less protect themselves! The shepherd is everything for the sheep: the provider, the protector and the leader.

David says with all confidence, The Lord is my shepherd (verse 1). He did not say, I hope He is my shepherd, or, Sometimes He is my shepherd, but The Lord is my shepherd. It is a statement of an actual, certain and constant fact. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39). For I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12). How beautiful this trust is! There is no fear of rejection from the shepherd, because He loves us. The believer is in the hand of his shepherd always and continually that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Christ said, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep...I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand (John 10:11,14,27,28). No one has the right to say he is of Christ's sheep until he is born again and has become a new creation in Christ, having received a new nature from Him. Everyone who has not received this new nature is described by the Bible as "goats" and "wolves".

Saying The Lord is my shepherd shows us the deep experience and total trust of the psalmist. "My shepherd": He is mine, and I am His. He really keeps watch of the whole flock, but the psalmist feels that the shepherd is his alone. He seems to be saying, I feel Your loving care and concern for me, Lord, as if there is no one on earth who needs Your care but me! Hasn't the good shepherd said, For their sakes I sanctify My self meaning dedicate Myself (John 17:19)? So He is mine. Yes, My beloved is mine!

There is a personal relationship between the shepherd Lord and the following believer, for the Lord is not far away from us. He is love that descended to us and has not kept Himself away from us. The believer says, The Lord is my shepherd because the loving God lives in his heart. Jacob, the father of the tribes, called Him, The God who has fed me all of my life long to this day (Genesis 48:15).

The Lord is my shepherd.He is mine. He was mine yesterday, He is mine today, and will continue to take care of me until the end of the age! He is all-loving, all-powerful and all-wise. Not a single day will pass by without Him taking care of me. This sweet care is continual; during the day and by night. During the day He feeds and nourishes, and by night He leads His flock into the fold. It is surrounded by four walls, with only one "door" through which the flock goes in to sleep with the shepherd. Therefore He says, I am the door (John 10:9). No sheep leaves the fold without Him knowing it, and no stranger will come in except on His body, for whoever touches His flock touches the apple of His eye. When a sheep is in perfect shape it walks by the side of its shepherd, and when it falls ill the shepherd carries it on his shoulders. The sheep is the centre of continual and unending concern.

The relationship of the shepherd with His flock is one of provision for all needs: I shall not want(verse 1b). The psalmist lists five things the shepherd provides for the sheep. First: food; he says, He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Second: water; He leads me beside the still waters. Third: stillness; still water. Fourth: healing from being lost; He restores my soul. Fifth: guidance; He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

The Lord is my shepherd.The inevitable result of this is that I shall not want, neither today, nor tomorrow, nor any other day! Moses said to the people about their wandering in the desert, These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing (Deuteronomy 2:7). Then he said about the land which they would move to, a land...in which you will lack nothing (Deuteronomy 8:9). Sometimes we desire certain things, but in fact we do not need them, so the Lord does not find them necessary enough to give to us. But He always gives us what we need. The thing we desire might cause us harm or hurt us, or perhaps it is less in quality and quantity than what our heavenly Father would give us. Our prayer should be: Let Your will be done because we do not know what to pray for as we ought, and He chooses our good portion for us. Certainly we will lack nothing then. And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell (Nehemiah 9:20,21). The believer discovers continually that Christ Himself is his food and water, as Christ gives Himself to him, saying, He who feeds on Me will live because of Me (John 6:57). Christ asked His disciples, 'When I sent you without money bag, sack and sandals, did you lack anything?' So they said, 'Nothing' (Luke 22:35).

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. Young lion lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing(Psalm 34:9,10). My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). He feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies in the fields; how much greater is His own flock!

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters(verse 2). He takes us to the fertile, opulent, plentiful, evergreen pastures; to the word of God that nourishes, satisfies and strengthens; to the still, undisturbed waters. The Lord calms down the waves of the sea before His beloved ones; He leads them to the delights of the Holy Spirit, who gives the soul rest, security and stability. He leads them to perfect peace and glorious joy. He leads us to the still waters that quenches our spiritual thirst, puts an end to it, then flows from us to fill many others. Thus Christ's words are fulfilled in us: Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 4:14; 7:37,38).

The responsibility of the believer, however, is to lie down where his shepherd makes him to lie down and wherever He leads him. This means surrender and submission to able, wise and sensible leadership, for no one can lie down unless he is sure, secure and not afraid. All our needs are in Him. The more we surrender to His loving care the more we get released from anxiety and fear, because He is the "door", by whom if anyone enters, he will be saved and find pasture (John 10:9).

Are you inside the Lord's fold? Can you say with assurance, The Lord is my shepherd? If you are far come closer to Him, and you will receive care, protection and satisfaction.

The relationship between the shepherd and the flock makes Him restore the lost: He restores my soul(verse 3a). What a sorry mistake the believer makes when he goes astray from his shepherd! Sheep are known for their stupidity and short-sightedness; they see only a short distance ahead, and depend mainly on hearing. Many a time a sheep would go on a wrong path and all the flock would follow suit without thinking at all. When they come up against a dangerous area they don't know how to turn back! What a similarity between the believer and the sheep! Both are slow to understand what the Scriptures taught and the goodness they experience in the shepherd. Therefore the evangelistic prophet Isaiah says, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to his own way (Isaiah 53:6).

How often have we walked beside the good shepherd, enjoying His excellent care, lacking nothing, and suddenly we swerve to a way that Solomon describes: There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12)!

I wonder what is it that attracted our attention? Have we thought that there is a pasture greener than the one our shepherd led us to? Have we imagined a spot more secure and restful than the spot where He made us to lie down? Have we followed a wrong leadership that led our feet to dangerous, slippery paths without really considering the results of this deviation?

There isn't a reasonable way to account for our deviation from the shepherd; we are inexcusable! But it is really unfortunate that we do go astray from our shepherd!

The lamb that gets lost sometimes reaches a place where there is another shepherd. The other shepherd would partly slaughter it, leave it for a while until the other shepherd comes and finds it, binds up its wounds, carries it on his shoulders and takes it back where it can get healed. But if a lamb goes too far away from its shepherd, and the shepherd cannot find it soon, the strange shepherd would eat the flesh of that lost lamb! We go astray, but the good shepherd hastens to look for us, and keeps looking for us until He has found us. This is what Jesus reveals to us in the parable of the shepherd who went out looking for the one lost sheep until he found it (Luke 15:1-6). The lost one does not look for his shepherd; it is the shepherd who looks for him, and thus fulfils the written word: For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:25).

Have you had a sweet relationship with the Lord that waned and dwindled? Have you had a remarkable ministry that stopped? Do you lead a life of open rebellion? The Lord wants to restore you to where you have been, to a deeper fellowship, a more successful ministry and more obedience. His desire is to bring you back to the best you have been in. Do not despair; remember where you fell and repent, and go quickly to the fold of your shepherd, saying, He restores my soul. When you sin He cleanses you; when you become weak He strengthens you; when you become afraid He reassures you; and when you grieve He comforts you.

The relationship between the shepherd and the sheep makes Him lead them in straight paths: He leads me in the paths of righteousness(verse 3b). Out of love, the good shepherd not only restores your soul, but also leads you on. Leading has a sense of tenderness and care: 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 (Isaiah 40:11). He knows that you are prone to stumbling because of your human frailty and because of the devil's temptation. Therefore He leads you in the paths of righteousness where the lame does not stumble and the weak does not fall down.

In winter the roads become muddy, and when wagons travel on them they leave big groves or ruts in them that go up and down. Once they dry up the sheep find it hard to walk in them, so the shepherd picks out an easy road for them, or smooths out the difficult one. This is what our good shepherd does, who leads our feet in the path of righteous. Now righteousness is uprightness, and the paths of righteousness are the upright and straight paths. These paths are many, as many as the ways of ministering to the Lord are. He says of these, I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths (Proverbs 4:11). Which paths will you take to serve the Lord? And in which way will you walk to do His will? God gives the believers many gifts, all of them are upright and must be used fairly. As we walk the paths of righteousness, we give everyone his due; so we give the Lord the obedience, love, trust and tithes that we owe Him, as well as giving others the service and kindness that we owe them. Also we give our souls what we owe them, namely work out our salvation in fear and trembling, receiving the end of our faith- the salvation of our souls, and compete according to the rules, that we may lay hold of the that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us and saved us (Philippians 3:12).

Many people have no meaning in their lives, and wonder, Why am I here? The answer is that you are where you are because God leads you in the paths of righteousness. Seek to know His will and do it, then you will experience the better life which Christ came to grant you (John 10:10).

How much we are grateful to the good shepherd for doing all that for His name's sake not for our sake. He names us after Him, and we became His and belong to Him. We have been called Christians after Christ, our great Shepherd, which is our best guarantee. If God was prompted to lead us due to the good in us, he would stop leading us as soon as we stop being good! But we thank Him because His leadership of us never stops, because it is for His name's sake. And His name is unchangeable!

The relationship between the shepherd and the flock goes on even in the dark valley: Yea, through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Your are with me(verse 4a). The valley of the shadow of death is a very dark valley, in which the good shepherd allows us to walk sometimes. Not all the ways with are green pastures, neither are there still waters the whole time, but in the world we will have tribulation, yet we are sure that Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). For to you it has been granted in behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29). Nevertheless, in the midst of all these troubles, we find His loving care and compassionate heart engulfing us. We do not walk the valley of the shadow of death alone, because the good shepherd is always with us.

The psalmist says, Though I walk. He does not run in panic and terror, but walks in assurance and peace. When one is terrified he runs, but the one who is confident "walks" deliberately and fearlessly, because he knows his way. He also knows that the way of man is not in himself, and that it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). On the other hand, he is sure that the Lord orders his footsteps. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way (Psalm 37:23).

The believer walks in the valley of the shadow of death fearlessly because he knows the end of his way, and because he knows that he is only passing by. After he enters a dark tunnel he goes out into the light of the Lord, trusting that the One who leads him is able to keep what he has committed to Him until that day, because no one can snatch away the believer from the hand of his good shepherd who keeps his safe until he reaches the harbour in peace (2 Timothy 1:12; John 10:28).

But why does the psalmist call it the valley of the shadow of death? The answer: The valley to so low. When the sun sets the bottom of it becomes dark, and then the darkness creeps up to the high tops. The valley is very narrow at most places, and hence the expression the valley of the shadow of death.

Often times we meet difficulties that deprive us from seeing Christ "the sun of righteousness", so we cry out, How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? (Psalm 13:1,2). He is like the weeping Mary Magdalene, who was unable to see her risen Master because of the tears that filled her eyes! But the psalmist, whose heart is brimming with hope, says, O My God, my soul is cast down within me? ...I will say to God my Rock, why have You forgotten me? Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God (Psalm 42:6-11).

The believer's heart is calm because he is walking in the valley of the shadow of death, not in the valley of death itself! Inasmuch as the shadow of the lion does not tear someone to pieces, and the shadow of the sword does not wound, likewise the shadow of death does not put to death! It is a mere shadow!

How fortunate we are! The Lord stands beyond our troubles lighting the way, and the dark will soon be dispersed and replaced by the perfect daylight. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Christ, our Good Shepherd, has already crossed the valley of the shadow of death before us, defeated death and the grave, and given us the right to say triumphantly, O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? We are going to get out of the dark valley, and keep on walking and progressing. We are going to get out from the straits into a broad place, as Elihu said, Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, into a broad place where there is no restraint (Job 36:16). For this reason the psalmist says, Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord- Your salvation according to Your word. So I shall keep Your law continually, for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty for I seek Your precepts (Psalm 119:41,44,45).

The psalmist goes on to say that he walks slowly and fearlessly in a narrow and dark valley, in the shadow of death, but fears no evil for You are with me. God said to Joshua, As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1:5,6). The company of the good shepherd does not, and will not, ever leave you. He is with you all the days until the end of the age. He is unchangeable; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For YAH, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has also become my salvation(Isaiah 12:2). He says to us emphatically, Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand...For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' (Isaiah 41:10,13). When the Lord walks by your side He turns the shadow of death into morning: He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning (Amos 5:8), so you get out from the shadow of death into the light. He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light (Job 12:22). Then your heart will overflow with thanksgiving and you will say, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). I will fear no evil; for You are with me.

No doubt you've noticed that the psalmist spoke of the Lord in the third person: The Lord is my shepherd...He makes me to lie down...He leads me. Yet no sooner he spoke of the valley of the shadow of death, he switched into the second person as he spoke directly to God, saying, For You are with me. The psalm follows a descriptive style till it comes to where the writer goes into the valley of the shadow of death. Then the speech about God turns into a speech to God. The sufferings of life cause us to kneel down in prayer. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus were gloomy and downcast because Christ had been crucified, died, and was buried. As soon as they began talking with Christ, however, the cloud of despair and sorrow lifted, and was replaced by hope and joy. In your time of fear and sorrow, turn from speaking about God to speaking to God, and your heart will be filled with assurance and peace.

The relationship between the shepherd and the flock involves using the rod and the staff: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me(verse 4b).

God offers it with His own hand:How gracious is the hand that gives in love and generosity and does not reproach! In His presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). The psalmist says to the Lord, You meet him with the blessings of goodness (Psalm 21:3), and to his fellow believers, Oh, taste and see, that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:8-10).

How happy is the believer who fills his heart with the banquet of his Lord! God Himself has invited His people to this banquet: Eat, O friends! Drink (Song of Solomon 5:1). The King has led us into the banquet house and His banner over us is love. We shall eat of the hidden manna whose eater never hungers, and drink of the spring of living water whose drinker never thirsts.

We will stay in the presence of that great King as guests, until we reach His eternal kingdom, just as Joseph's tired brothers reached his royal house, where he fed and honoured them even though they had cast him down into a pit! As we walk through the wilderness of this life, we get weary and lie down in exhaustion. The angel of the Lord comes and touches us, offers us food and drink prepared by the hands of the King Himself, and tells us words of encouragement: Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you (1 Kings 19:7). Blessed are all those who accept the invitation of the generous King and always eat at His spiritual heavenly table!

God protects His guests:The royal palace is a sanctuary for all those who take refuge in it. It serves the same purpose as "the cities of refuge", where the Mosaic law commanded every accidental manslayer to take refuge until the judges looked into his case and pronounced him innocent. The law specified six cities for refuge which any accidental killer may flee to (Numbers 35:15). When the avengers of blood would come to seek the blood of the killer, and the investigation proved that he did not mean to kill, the judges would sentence him to serve a term in the cities of refuge until the high priest, in whose time the killing happened, dies. When the accidental killer returned to his home town, the folk of the victim could do him no harm.

Now the six cities of refuge were enough when the population was little, but after the population increased, the people had to use the tents of the shepherds as cities of refuge. Whoever kills a person accidentally would flee to a shepherd's tent, where he would find food and safety, while his enemies stand outside the tent unable to kill him. They see each other, but he is a guest at the shepherd, eating his food in safety, and say, in effect, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (verse 5a).

Let us go to Him in repentance, taking refuge with the great King, the generous Host and the Good Shepherd, where we can find forgiveness, safety, satisfaction and protection. He is the refuge that offered the blood, so let us be diligent to praise Him with our hearts and mouths. He is Christ, our Refuge, to whom we run to be safe (Proverbs 18:10). All we like sheep have gone astray, and He carried the iniquity of us all.

Charles Wesley was looking out the window of his room on a very cold and snowy day when a robin rushed in- into Charles Wesley's bosom, all wet and shivering with cold. The famous Christian singer took it and put it closer to the hearth, dried its feathers and made it warm and comfortable. When the storm subsided, he released it.. Wesley saw himself in that robin and wrote down the words of this song:

God celebrates the victory of His guests: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemiespaints a portrait of a king who won the battle against his enemies, and sat down with the senior men of his country to celebrate the victory around a royal banquet, having tied his enemies to the pillars of the royal palace. The victor eats with his men in the presence of his captured enemies who can't rise against him any more.

In saying You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies it means that God's grace triumphs over our adversary the devil, who prowls around seeking someone to devour. He only devours those who listen and surrender to him. But the person who refuses to be tempted by him gains victory and the Lord grants him the privilege of sitting in His presence, eating of His spiritual table, while his enemies are tied up before him unable to do him any harm.

If you run to God and obey His commandments, He will satisfy you with the abundance of His grace, tie up your enemies so that they can't hurt you, and cast Satan under your feet. If God is for you who can be against you? If an army rises against you, do not fear; feel safe. They won't get at you, or hurt you, because the Lord is you victory and preservation. The Lord Himself will prepare a table in the presence of your enemies and make them unable to hurt you. Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you and no one will attack you to hurt you (Acts 18:9,10).

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemiesalso means enjoying a banquet of the victorious shepherd, who sometimes shepherded his sheep in green pastures, as well as in lands with serpents hidden in the crevices of the rocks, where his helpless sheep graze. The wise and experienced shepherd would boil water and pour it on the crevices of the rocks to kill the serpents, and allow the sheep to graze in safety, because the shepherd has prepared a table before them in the presence of their enemies!

It is a true saying that he who touches you touches the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). But the third person in "His eye" may refer to the enemy as well as to God. If it is the first, then it would mean that the enemy who touches us would actually be touching the apple of his own eye, to hurt himself, like an ox that kicks against the goads. The cunning enemy must fall in the ditch which he dug for the beloved of God, even if he is as cunning as serpents. If the third person in "His eye" refers to God, it would mean that whoever touches us touches the apple of God's eye, who is afflicted in all our afflictions, and sends the angel of His presence to save us (Isaiah 63:9). Far be it from the enemy to implement his plans!

How generous God's mercy is! He Himself prepares a table in the presence of our enemies, and renders them powerless to hurt us. When they mean evil to us, He turns the evil into good.

God honours His guests: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over(verse 5b). This generous Host does not only feed us, but also anoints our heads with oil, and fills our cups till they run over!

God assigns two angels to guards His guest: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life(verse 6a). Whoever sits at the King's table will be followed by two guardian angels; namely goodness and mercy. The Jews believed that a true believer always walks in the company of these two guardian angels. There are no greater goodness and mercy than when we walk in the company of the good shepherd, who guides us to the paths of righteousness and walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death all the days of our lives.

The psalmist begins this sentence with the word "surely". It is a word of emphasis. It removes all doubt in the fact that goodness will follow the King's guest, and that mercy will overtake him. What a great difference there is between the state of the King's guest and that of His enemy; for the wicked shall be pursued by the angel of the Lord (Psalm 35:6), and evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him (Psalm 140:11).

The guest stays in the house of the Lord: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever(verse 6b). The generous Host welcomes His guest, who has eaten at His table, to stay in His palace forever. Naturally the spiritual sense is intended, for no man can stay in the place of worship all the days of his life. What is meant here is that the heart of man becomes a temple for the Lord, so that the whole man turns into a living, mobile church, through which people would see Christ and hear the word of God. His entire concern should be the worship of the Lord, so that he may experience what Moses did, whose face shone because he stayed in the presence of the Lord (Exodus 34:30,31). Then God would say, How precious is Your loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house (Psalm 36:7,8). Christ said, A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever (John 8:35).

There is another spiritual meaning of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever, which is the blissful eternity a believer enjoys in the Lord's presence. The psalmist has transported us in this last verse from the present world to the one to come, as though we hear the saying: I go to prepare a place for you...that where I am, there you may be also ...I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:2,3,6). And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

What are the uses of the rod and staff mentioned in verse 4?

How does the host honour his guests?

God's universal ownership: The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness(verse 1). He owns the earth and all that is upon it, whether mankind, birds, beasts, or plants. They are His by virtue of creation, for All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:3). He ensures the continuation of the universe, for He is upholding all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3), and of Him and through Him and to Him are all things (Romans 11:36). For this reason He said, All the earth is Mine (Exodus 19:5), and Moses said to the people, Heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth and all that is in it (Deuteronomy 10:14). He owns us and all we have; we are just stewards in charge of the children, finances, time, health, intelligence and educational degrees. No one can say of anything that it is his, because all things belong to the God.

God's ownership is lawful: For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters(verse 2).

Worship is a privilege: Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?(verse 3). Worship is a privilege because it is "ascension" into the hill of Lord. It is also "standing" in the presence of the Lord in His holy place. Ascension is difficult because it involves climbing up, which requires effort and will-power. On the other hand, standing requires wakefulness, alertness, determination and perseverance. Descending and sitting, however, are easy! Christ said, Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it...narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13,14).

Spiritual life requires ascension above the level of the world. When Moses prayed to God to give victory to His people against their enemy Amalek he had to hold up his hands to God all the time, because whenever he let his hands down the enemy prevailed! As he grew weary Aaron and Hur came to his aid and propped his hands up, one on one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until sunset when his people won victory (Exodus 17:11,12).

Worship is a responsibility: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, he who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully(verse 4). David was afraid as He saw God putting Uzza to death because he dared to touch the ark of the covenant with his hands, which was prohibited by the law. David realised the necessity of obedience and harmony with the divine will. So worship is a privilege, as well as a responsibility that requires three things of us:

Worship is a blessing: He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation(verse 5). The Lord blesses a loyal worshipper of Him as He blessed the house of Obed-Edom when the ark of the Lord's covenant stayed in it for three months, so much so that David heard of that abundant blessing. It was such a beautiful statement that Mary said, He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty (Luke 1:53).

A loyal worshipper will receive righteousness, just as Abraham believed in the Lord and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Christ's statement will also fit him: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).

Worship is continual: This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face(verse 6). They seek Him always. He who seeks Him will say, I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.' (Psalm 122:1). He will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Psalm 23:6). He who seeks His face seeks Him with all his heart; whether in his place of work, or in a prayer-chamber. This persistent seeker resembles Jacob, the father of the tribes, as he should be, and he is The Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

So let us seek the Lord and His face always and eagerly. A scientist may spend all his life trying to develop a certain machine to serve mankind better. Will the believer be less zealous? Believers should spend their lives developing and deepening their spiritual lives by seeking the Lord and His face. Then God will bless their lives and make them a blessing to others, as He said to Abraham, I will bless you...And you shall be a blessing...And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:2,3).

The King comes in in the midst of shouts of welcome: Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in(verse 7). The ark arrived at the gates of Jerusalem, so the psalmist said, And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! The gates of the city are too low for the King of glory to come in, so they must be lifted up. Also they must be opened wide to provide enough space for the divine glory. And let all resistance that hinders the entrance of the King of glory be stopped, for He is worthy of perfect welcome. These doors are "everlasting", yet as old as they are the Lord gives them new blessings when they open to the King of glory.

This verse is a prophecy about Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem one Sunday before His resurrection, when the crowds shouted to Him, Hosanna! [meaning: Save us, we pray] Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Mark 11:9,10).

Today, we must welcome the King of glory to come in and reign over our lives, so that all what we have may become His and at His disposal. Let everyone of us say to himself, O door of my heart, be lifted up and be wide open for the King of glory to come in. Today I will not leave anything that hinders Christ's entry into my heart.

The King comes in victoriously: Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle(verse 8). His redeemed people sang to Him a song that says, The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The song ends also with this statement: The Lord shall reign forever and ever (Exodus 15:2,18).

We read in prophecies Psalm 22 about the crucified and resurrected Christ that were written a thousand years before His crucifixion, and all of them were fulfilled. Christ conquered death and left His grave empty. All prophets tasted death, and they will come back to life on the last day to stand before Christ, the just Judge. Christ is the only one who rose from His grave victoriously, left His grave empty, and will come back again to the earth to take up His reign. He is The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. He killed death by His resurrection, and defeated Satan and made a public spectacle of him (Colossians 2:15).

The King will come in gloriously:The psalmist repeats his call and question again: Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory (verses 9,10). He is not only the victorious King, but also the "Lord of hosts" of whom David said while addressing Goliath, You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel (1 Samuel 17:45). His hosts are all created beings, as the Bible says after creation, Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished (Genesis 2:1). His host are his chosen people (Exodus 7:14). They are the sun, moon and stars (Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:3). They are also the angels (Luke 2:13). He is the King of glory, the owner of all authority in heaven and on earth.

What did the ark of the covenant contain?

Explain why worship is a privilege and a responsibility.

Prayer is lifting up one's soul to the Lord: To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul(verse 1). Prayer is elevation and exaltation of the soul, because God lifts up the pray-er who kneels down before Him in true humility. When we humble ourselves in His presence He exalts us in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Even if our difficulties and sins have caused us to bow our heads, let us turn to God in prayer so that He may lift us up. Let us hear His advice, Why is your face downcast? (Genesis 3:6). Don't let the circumstances make your countenance fall down in anger or despair, but Lift up your eyes on high (Isaiah 40:26; 51:6).

Paul said as the Jews accused him falsely, I appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11). He appealed to a higher judge seeking justice. Thus ought we appeal to God, because the more we pray the higher we are lifted up above difficulties. We might complain about our sufferings to our friends, or grumble within ourselves because of them trying to find a solution to our problems. But we soon find out that our minds are deficient and that our friends are inadequate. Let us lift up our souls to the Lord, and direct them into the right direction.

As Christ stood by Lazarus' tomb, Lazarus' body was already rotting, his sisters were weeping, and the Jews observed Him to see what he would do. Christ, however, turned His gaze away from all that, and lifted up His eyes toward heaven, saying, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me (John 11:41,42). This is how prayer should be! Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven (Lamentations 3:41).

An appeal not to let the enemy triumph: 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 upon You be ashamed; let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause(verses 2,3). A treacherous enemy sees only the visible things, so he will come to shame and disgrace because he builds his security on the visible material things only. The honest believer, however, will never be ashamed because he believes in God who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; being strengthened in the faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He has promised He is also able to perform (Romans 4:17-20).

The psalmist recognises that even the best people have enemies who rejoice over them in their calamities, but he also recognises the necessity to pray for them. Every believer is afflicted (John 16:33); for whom the Lord loves He chastens (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:6), and because our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Moreover, the ruler of this world opposes the believers (John 14:30), and the flesh of the believer lusts against his spirit (Galatians 5:17). Whenever the treacherous enemy looks at the calamities of the believer, he rejoices over him, whether the calamities were the believer's fault or not. The psalmist beseeches God to save him from this triumphant attitude of his oppressor, as David expressed it in the elegy he sang: The beauty of Israel [that is Saul] in slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath (the Philistine capital), proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon (another chief Philistine city)- lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph (2 Samuel 1:19,20).

An appeal for guidance: 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(verses 4,5). There are four requests in these two verses:

The process of learning needs patience. One learns and makes mistakes, and learns again without despair, repeating along with the psalmist, On You I wait all the day (verse 5). If God taught you but you still make mistakes, don't give up. Wait on Him to teach you afresh. Thank Him because He does not let down those who wait on Him. He does not drive away His disciples because of their ignorance, weak memory, slowness of understanding, hard-heartedness or refraining from putting their knowledge into practice. Rather, He teaches and trains them time and time again.

Waiting on the Lord means expecting to receive what we have asked of Him, just as the sick people at the pool of Bethesda expected the water to move in patience and confidence, in agreement with David as he said, My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him (Psalm 62:5).

4- An appeal for mercy: Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving-kindness, for they have been 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(verses 6,7). When times of trouble come, the believer thinks that God has forgotten him, so he resorts to prayer to remind God! This means that doubt started to prevail over his feelings and shake his confidence, so he appealed to God's unchangeable mercy. It has been from of old and it endures forever (Jeremiah 2:2; 31:3). He appeals to it because he is a sinner, who missed the mark, and because he is a rebel, who revolted against God's laws. Yet he knows that God's rich and tender mercies forgive his previous sins and cast every bad conduct into the depths of the sea: He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). You have cast all my sins behind Your back (Isaiah 38:17). As a result you can hear Him confirming to you: For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (Jeremiah 31:34). David lifted up a prayer asking for mercy, and after him the penitent thief who was crucified with Jesus prayed, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom (Luke 23:42). We dare not appeal to mercy except out of dependence on God's love, which was demonstrated in the cross.

Because of His own goodness: 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(verses 8,9). The sinner does not deserve any good thing, but because of God's goodness and grace He condescends to teach the sinner the paths of righteousness despite the fact that he has missed the mark. If the penitent sinner is humble, willing to learn and teachable, then God will guide him and educate him more through mental knowledge and practical training. Then he will know how to worship God in spirit and truth, lead a life that pleases and glorifies God, and comprehend God's good will. If you are at a loss, not knowing God's will concerning something, be sure that God wants to teach it to you. Your desire to know the divine will results from the activity of His Holy Spirit within you, and from your own response to the Holy Spirit's activity inside you. Therefore God will surely grant you this knowledge.

Because of His faithfulness: All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies(verse 10). All God's dealings with us prove that his faithfulness to His promises is great, and that His counsels are full of love for all those who abide in His covenant (Genesis 17:2-4) and obey Him (Exodus 19:5). The ark of the covenant was an embodiment of God's covenant with His people (Numbers 10:33). The Mosaic law on "the tablets of stone" was the constitution of the OT (Deuteronomy 9:9). For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). God showers us with His mercy and forgives our sins; He showers us with His truth, corrects and guides us. It is through His mercy that He restores my soul and through truth leads me in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3). His mercy forgives and His truth guides.

Because of man's frailty: For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great(verse 11). As the psalmist pondered over God's goodness and faithfulness, he discovered his own inadequacy. He then asked for pardon, taking shelter in God's revelation of Himself as being the God of mercy, as Moses had asked before him: Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance (Exodus 34:9). The Lord will never refuse the cry of someone asking for pardon, because He forgives the sinner once he confesses.

Because of the desire to know: 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. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net(verses 12-15). The net symbolises temptation. The Lord keeps the believers from falling into it, and rushes to rescue them from it. He taught us to pray: Do not lead us into temptation. We have seen from the start of the psalm that the Lord teaches those who fear Him, and guides them in His ways, which He chooses for them (verse 12). Their response to this is: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). This teaching increases their desire to learn more, because they can see the material prosperity the Lord gives them, and their descendants, as well (verse 13), as He promised Abraham (Genesis 15:7,8), and the rest of His people (Exodus 20:12; Matthew 5:5). Similarly, they see God's spiritual blessings to them, and His secret concern for them, in the fact that He reveals the secrets of His love and the laws of His kingdom and the truthfulness of His covenant (verse 14). He chose them to be His confidants because they are people of pure and simple hearts (Matthew 11:25). The Lord said to Amos, Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). Abraham is a good example of this, for Lord revealed to him what He was about to do to Sodom (Genesis 18:17). Amos said, Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

Christ said, If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority (John 7:17). Anyone who wants to obey God, God will show him things in His doctrine that the disobedient cannot grasp. For this reason the psalmist always looks up to the Lord, saying, My eyes are ever toward the Lord for he is sure He will pluck his feet out of the net (verse 15). The Jews used to call their children "Elioenai" (1 Chronicles 3:23) and "Elihoenai" (Ezra 8:4), in hopes that their children will live up to their names, having their eyes on the Lord and singing with psalmist, My eyes are upon the Lord, O God my Lord; in You I take refuge; do not leave my soul destitute (Psalm 141:8).

Sin is the main reason for trouble:

The psalmist recognises that all other troubles that came upon him from his enemies were the result of his own sins, and asks the Lord to forgive sins he committed, because he knows that sin disturbs and troubles the soul. The world cannot trouble us as long as we are in the Lord; but sin can trouble us as it hides His face from us. The enemies cannot give us pain and humiliation; pain and humiliation come always from inside, when a man acts proudly and high-handedly. In so doing he provokes God's anger and causes people to keep away from him because people don't like someone who is only interested in himself.

The enemies cause trouble: Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred(verse 19). His sin was the cause of some of the inner and outer troubles that afflicted him, and he asked for forgiveness and help. But some enemies opened hostilities against him simply because of the wickedness of their hearts, not because of anything he did wrong to them. They gathered around him, united against him, and hated him for no reason. So he cried out to the Lord, who teaches us that 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 (Matthew 5:11,12).

Trouble causes one to wait eagerly on the Lord: Oh, 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(verses 20,21). This is the supplication that Christ taught us: Do not lead us into temptation. The psalmist was troubled and helpless. He recognised that he himself was, in part, the cause of some of the trouble he has, and that the enemies form the other part. So he prayed for forgiveness and divine assistance, then declared that he was waiting for Lord. in whom he put his trust to relieve, help and rescue him. He knew that his integrity and uprightness were his guarantee of deliverance from trouble, because he dealt with a good and upright God.

Divine redemption is the perfect way out trouble: Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles!(verse 22). It is a comprehensive petition, in which the psalmist lifted up the people who were being tempted, who were struggling, and he would overcome by the grace of the Lord. To redeem means to set free at a price. God the Father pays a ransom, and Jesus Christ redeems us from all iniquity, cleanses us and makes us His own people (Titus 2:13,14). O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities (Psalm 130:7,8).

The psalmist prays, Show me, teach me, lead me, and teach me. How are these petitions related?

God shows his ways to us for four reasons. List them.

The innocent complainant pleads for divine justice: Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip(verse 1). The psalmist is sure of his innocence, so he asks the Lord to prove his innocence publicly, which he had already asked in Psalm 7:8. I have walked in my integrity. He walked earnestly and confidently, because he was sincere in his intents, clear-cut in his goals, and whole-hearted in his worship. He knew where he came from and where he was going to, so he went on toward the goal without ceasing, intrepidly and fearlessly. He trusted the Lord and will not slip. His feeling of integrity was not due to spiritual pride, but a fact that he used to defend himself in a certain situation and in a special case. David's judgement of himself was true, for his heart was after the Lord's own heart (Acts 13:22). God said to Solomon, Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgements, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father (1 Kings 9:4,5).

The first verse teaches us that we should lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of us, and press on to reach Him earnestly, confidently and ceaselessly, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead (Philippians 3:12,13), and laying aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us without slipping (Hebrews 12:1), saying together with Paul, who was falsely accused by the Corinthians of not being an Apostle, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed [hard pressed by persecutions, but not giving up his ministry to God]; we are perplexed, but not in despair [not knowing how to escape the troubles, but not losing hope in God's guidance, deliverance and power to open new doors for preaching]; persecuted, but not forsaken [persecuted by men, but not forsaken by God]; struck down, but not destroyed [struck down by flogging, but rising up again to preach]- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body [suffering like Christ, but Christ lives in him] (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 [Brackets are ours]). How beautiful it is to be praised by your own conscience and say, If I regard any iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear (Psalm 66:18).

The innocent complainant appeals to divine testing: examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart(verse 2). The Lord knew David, who had said to Him, You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried my and have found nothing (Psalm 17:3). But out of confidence in his innocence he tells the Lord to test him again! There were three kinds of testing: testing by smell, testing by touch, and testing by fire. David asks that these three tests be carried out on him, as the Lord did with Abraham (Genesis 22:1), and Israel (Deuteronomy 8:2,16) to give each one according to his ways (Jeremiah 17:10). Each and every believer has to ask the Lord to let him pass through these three tests to be separate from evil and dedicated to the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:14-18):

The innocent complainant takes refuge in divine loving-kindness: For Your loving-kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth(verse 3). David asked the Lord to test him because he was sure of God's loving-kindness, which he had experienced in the past, still sees in the present, and is sure he will see in the future. He saw it manifest in His creation of and care for the grass, the birds, the animals and human beings. He heard of His loving-kindness, which was made manifest in redeeming Isaac with a ram, then in the Mosaic law, which has set up the ordinance of atonement through animals. Perhaps it was through the spirit of prophecy that he foresaw the coming of the Son of David, who would establish an everlasting redemption, because He is the lamb of God who takes away all the sin of the world (John 1:29). He truly said, I have walked in Your truth, because the will of God was the constitution of his life, and the word of God controlled him, but he was in a continual need for God's loving-kindness.

Negatively:He avoided certain things and hated the ways of the wicked: I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked (verses 4,5). I have not sat -in the present perfect tense- and will not sit today or tomorrow with idolatrous mortals who are empty-headed, liars, dishonest and misled. Thus David's life had the qualities of the blessed man, as he himself put them in Psalm 1, and he also obtained what Jeremiah said afterwards (Jeremiah 15:17).

He says that he will not go into the houses of "the hypocrites", who dishonestly speak peace to their neighbours, but evil is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3). Thus he was right in saying, I have walked in my integrity (verse 1). Believers must live in the midst of the world without being of the world, because we cannot keep away from the world. Otherwise we would have to get out of it (1 Corinthians 5:10). Christ said, I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one (John 17:15).

Positively:He did certain things that prove his godliness: 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 (verses 6-8).

A request in keeping with his past: Do not gather my soul together with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes(verses 9,10). In his past life he kept away from the wicked because Evil company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33). He never had anything to do with the bloodthirsty men, who practice violence, scheme to murder and do it, taking the life of innocent men; whose right hands are full of vice, who cook up evil schemes and accept bribes to twists the judgement, ignoring that fire will consume the tents of bribery (Job 15:34). Truly, what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14,15).

A request in keeping with his present: But as for me, I walk in my integrity(verse 11a). He proceeds forward, continuing the walk which he began with the Lord, and of which he said earlier, I have walked in my integrity (verse 1).

A request in keeping with his expectation: Redeem me and be merciful to me(verse 11b). He never claims to be perfect, but asks for redemption and mercy to stay away from the path of the wicked. If we were granted David's request, we would say, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1,2).

What are the three divine tests the psalmist asked for in verse 2?

The psalmist did five things to prove his godliness. Name them.

The psalmist is confident because of his God:He repeats the name of the Lord six times in the first half of the psalm, and seven times in the second, describing God with three descriptions:

He is confident on account of his past experiences: When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell(verse 2). He was surrounded with dangers, as Job said to his friends who were fierce beasts, Why do you persecute me...and are not satisfied with my flesh? (Job 19:22). David must have recalled here how a lion and a bear attacked his flock, which he killed and then he gave all the credit to God (1 Samuel 17:37). He must have also recalled Goliath, the giant who was armed to the teeth, like a moving castle, whom he killed by a small pebble shot from a sling (1 Samuel 17:49). And finally, Saul his enemy fell on his own sword and died (1 Samuel 31:4). So it was out of experience that he said, My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Confidence in one's deliverance comes from experience, and the believer's life is rich in experiences similar to those of David, in which God delivered him from all evil work.

He is confident because of his trust: Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident(verse 3). David was subject to wars on all sides: Saul and his hordes hounded him, and the neighbouring countries waged war against him as soon as he was enthroned king. But in all these wars he was confident and fearless because of his faith in the Lord and His promises. All the armies of the world do not frighten the believer because the Commander of the army of the Lord comes to his help (Joshua 5:14), and the Lord hides him (Jeremiah 36:26), so that he says, You are my hiding place (Psalm 32:7). From his past experiences the psalmist learned to trust that God will be with him in the future, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Happy is the man who can say that God is his God, the God of his father, and the God of his grandfather. He has a rich heritage on which he can build his present and his future.

A whole-hearted petition: One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will 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(verse 4). One thing is needed (Luke 10:42). Too many goals distract a person and keep him shallow. Therefore David seeks to behold the beauty and glory of the Lord, for then He would shine upon him with pleasure, his soul would be illuminated by the heavenly light, and he would be filled with the desire to be a son in God's family, members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever (John 8:35). David yearns to worship the Most High God in His temple, speaking with God in his prayer for himself as well as for others, and telling people about God in his preaching, teaching and psalms.

As David fled before his son Absalom and became a fugitive in the wilderness of Judah, he must have longed to relax in his palace and eat and drink with contentment among his servants. But his greater longing was to worship in the house of God; hence he said, My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1). This is the expression of a heart devoted to God's love, attracted by the beauty of God's holiness, love and justice. It shouts out loud, How great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! (Zechariah 9:17 KJV), and repeats what it desires: "To behold", and "To inquire." He first takes a general glance, and then begins to look more closely. He ponders on the Lord more and more, and his heart is so absorbed in God's word that he starts to meditate, or rather feed, on it till it has its fill. My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God (Psalm 84:1,2). He expreiences what Jesus said, He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him... If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14:21,23).

A petition of someone who is indebted to God: For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me(verse 5). In this verse we can see the psalmist's description of God's cheering work:

Oh, how do we need these three blessings in order to experience through them God's continual and faithful watch over us!

A petition that confesses Him in public: 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(verse 6). When he won the victory he first thought of the One who gave him victory. He did not think of throwing a party to celebrate his triumph, but thanked God with joyful singing because He led him in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). We bow down our head from humiliation, fear or shame, but God removes the cause of humiliation and dishonour, takes away our fear and blots out of shame. He glorifies the one who inquires in His temple, and gives confidence to the one who hides in his pavilion, and covers the imperfections of whoever takes shelter in His redemption, so that we would be able to hold our heads high. Therefore let us continually offer the sacrifices of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15).

Here David confesses the Lord's favour to him in public, and declares his confidence that my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. He expresses his thanksgiving, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; and his praise, I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

A prayer of a humble man: Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy upon me, and answer me(verse 7). In all humility and without any pride he calls upon the Lord, falling back on His mercy, because he in himself is unworthy. All he has is the divine grace. He depends on the divine tender mercies in times of prosperity and joy as well in times of failure and tears. God's mercy is the sinner's hope and the believer's refuge.

A prayer of someone who is required to pray: When You said, 'Seek My face', my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek'(verse 8). God calls us for prayer, so we are not intruding into His presence. The psalmist heard the command and answered, as Jeremiah said, Indeed we do come to You, for You are the Lord our God (Jeremiah 3:22). God called the boy Samuel in the temple three times, and the high priest understood that the Lord was calling the boy, and taught him how to answer Him: Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears (1 Samuel 3:9). Similarly, Christ commanded us: Ask, and it will given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7-9).

A prayer of someone who has hope: 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(verse 9). The prayer will not be answered, even if we are seeking His face, as long as his face is hidden from us. Knowing this, the psalmist pleads with God to be pleased with him; for He is unchangeable, who has been his help in the past, and will not hide His face from His servant: For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard (Psalm 22:24). God cannot be an unjust judge and disappoint the hope of his servant I His anger and wrath. He cannot leave the believer, whom he loves, without delivering, rescuing and saving him. Solomon, the epitome of wisdom, said in the prayer for the temple's inauguration, May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us (1 Kings 8:57). Let us remember the Lord's previous goodness to us, and ask Him to always be with us, because He is the God of our salvation. David saw how the Lord was so angry with Saul that he removed his kingdom from him, and could not bear to arouse God's anger, since he needed His help.

The psalmist expresses to his hope in the Lord by saying that When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me (verse 10). This verse is actually in the perfect tense. David had taken his parents to live with the king of Moab, left them there, and we hear of them afterwards (1 Samuel 22:3,4). He took care of them after they had taken care of him, because they became dependent on his care. Nevertheless, he stresses that God's love and pity for him are stronger than all the love he experienced in his parents' house. If you are going through circumstances like his, remember Christ's promise: I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18).

A prayer of someone who is submitted to God's will: 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(verses 11,12). This petition brings out the psalmist's humility, desire to know, willingness to obey and need for someone to guide him. He wants to walk in God's path, no matter the difficulties that lie ahead of him because of his enemies, who spread maligning tales about him, bear false witness against him, rise up against him, and breath out violence and threats (Acts 9:1). Yet, he is not going to give up nor compromise his principles; he won't make any mistake that gives them the chance to stain his good reputation. They twist his way and fill it with ditches, but he is submitted to God's will, and seeks His divine help to carry out His good will.

A prayer of someone who is waiting: 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!(verses 13,14). The psalmist was positive he was going to see the goodness of the Lord here on earth before seeing it in heaven. For this reason he encourages both himself and his fellow-believers to wait on the Lord, who does not delay his help and succor. This way the believers' hearts cheer up and are filled with strength. Here we see the faith that reproves despair!

Many times a child from the Sunday School would knock at the door of our house, which is annexed to the church. When we are a little late to answer he goes away because he can't wait! He is in a hurry! We often do the same thing with God. If we want to receive a blessing from God, let us wait patiently on the Lord. Christ told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of God, which He gave them (Acts 1:4). So they waited for ten days. This time of waiting was not boring for them, nor was it a time of collective laziness and inactivity, for the disciples used the time of waiting to be more intimate with one another, get reconciled and remove all negativity from their hearts. They were waiting for the Lord and His blessing, preparing their hearts to receive it.

In verse 1 the psalmist mentions three things that give him confidence. what are they?

In verse 5 the psalmist mentions three things God does for him. List them and give a brief comment on each.

The qualities of the God of the pray-er:

The qualities of the one who prays:

The pray-er's expression of himself:

The pray-er's requests:

Thanks for the answer: Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my supplication(verse 6). Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name (Psalm 103:1). God sometimes gives the pray-er what he asks for, but he more often gives him much more and much better things than what he asks or thinks. In prayer the Holy Spirit intercedes with us, because we don't know how we ought to pray, so the Holy Spirit prays within us to improve our requests and answer them in a better way (Romans 8:26). One ought to express gratitude to whoever renders him a good deed, and thank him for it.

Thanks for past help: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped(verse 7a). The Lord is both the strength and the source of the believer's strength. He strengthens him by His person, as well His gifts. He empowers him on the inside as He promised, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8), so that he would bear trials and sufferings, and overcome the evil temptations. You always find the believers who live through trials stronger than those who watch them from afar off, as was the case with the three men in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25).

The psalmist says, The Lord is my shield. This is outward strength. The shield is a piece of wood covered with leather, which the warrior holds to ward off arrows. God may send us a man to defend us. He may remind us in times of distress of encouraging words we could have forgotten or overlooked, and thereby help us. But there is always the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). Yes, there is a defence against every offence, and against every temptation, because in God's love for the believer there is strength and protection.

Thanks for the coming help: Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him(verse 7b). The heart rejoices and will continue rejoicing, because the Lord has answered and will continue answering. The believer, therefore, thanks Him for what has happened, and for what is going to happen. God has secured the past, and will secure the future, too.

The psalmist's trust in the Lord: The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed(verse 8). The Lord is the strength of His people just as He is the strength and shield of the psalmist (verse 7). It is an indisputable truth, for God's strength helps His people and subjugates the enemy; it saves the believers and destroys the sinners: it always deserves our admiration! The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:11). O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for you. Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble, His people responds (Isaiah 33:2). The Lord is the saving refuge of His anointed, who might be the king whom God anointed over His people, the priest whom He anointed to tell the people about the Lord and tell the Lord about the people, or a prophet who brings a special message to the people from God. God supports and preserves the king, the priest and whomever He commissions to do His ministry.

The psalmist's requests: Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever(verse 9). There are four requests in this verse:

Let us lift up these four requests for ourselves and for the rest of God's people: Save, bless, shepherd, and bear up, because we are Your people and Your dear inheritance.

In verse 1 the psalmist describes himself in three ways. Mention them.

In verse 9 the psalmist asked four things for his people. What are they?

The guests:Right at the beginning of the psalm David elevates our thoughts from earth to heaven, and calls "the sons of God" to glorify God. The Masoretic text indeed has "sons of God" instead of "mighty ones", but at any rate the guest whom David invites could have been the important people and the sovereign rulers of the earth, or the angels who stand before God's throne. He calls them to praise the glorious, mighty God who shows His glory and might through the storm, the lightning, the thunder and the heavy rain. He tells them three times to give unto the Lord (verses 1,2). Let them lift up your eyes on high and see! He directs their sight on every occasion to God, because the world around them, as well as the devil, directs them to the earthly things. Satan was not ashamed to tempt Christ with three temptations to distract His eyes from God's plan. Command that these stones be bread, he said to Christ. The stones must have been smooth and round enough to remind one of his hunger. The devil was beating on the physical need. But Christ looked up and said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:3,4). He emphasised the reality of the spiritual need, which all the people of God are encouraged to do.

The offerings to the guests:

The thunderstorm starts, coming from afar off(verses 3,4).

The storm declared that God speaks through it: The voice of the Lord is over the waters (verse 3a). Dark clouds skid across the sky as the waters of the sea rush over land, because the storm is coming! When He utters His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens: And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth (Jeremiah 10:13). The God of glory thunders (verse 3b). Thunders have begun! Yet the psalmist recognises that God is behind all that. He is above the clouds. The Lord is over many waters (verse 3c). Heavy rain will come down, but the Lord is higher above it all. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty (verse 4). The thunderstorm has reached the land in all its majestic power!

The voice of the Lord denotes His presence, activity, laws and power. Wherever His voice is, there is authority and activity. Moses said of the Ten Commandments, And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; you only heard a voice...from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice (Deuteronomy 4:12; 5:22). Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines, and so confused them that they were overcome by Israel (1 Samuel 7:10). As for the voice of the Holy Spirit, it convicts the world of committing sin, of lack of righteousness, and of the judgement that is coming upon all who refuse the spirit of Christ, who leads people to repentance (John 16:8).

The thunderstorm and the tremendous effect of its momentum(verses 5-7)

The thunderstorm reaches its end(verses 8,9)

He blesses them with His completed work: The Lord sat enthroned on the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever(verse 10). God has declared His authority through the storm, completed the work and sat down, just as Christ has completed His redemptive work, after having Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3). The word he uses here for "flood" occurs only in Genesis 6-11 referring to the Flood of Noah. But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgement (Psalm 9:7). He is the King who has reigned from of old and will reign forever more, for there is no end to His dominion: He alone has full authority. He guided Noah to build an ark before the Flood came, then sent the Flood and quelled it, drawing a beautiful rainbow across the sky.

The psalmist must have recalled God's mercy to Noah, and those who shared his faith with him, as he described the violent storm, as well as the punishment of God that fell on those who disobeyed Him. He saw God's great authority in the mercy that delivers and the justice that punishes. The wrath of man praises Him (Psalm 76:10). Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet (Judges 14:14).

He blesses them with strength: The Lord will give strength to His people(verse 11a). The Lord strengthens His people during the horrible storm that breaks the strong cedars of Lebanon, fells them down to the ground, and makes Mount Hermon skip like a wild ox, so that they should not be filled with fear or anxiety. Christ says to them, Do not fear, little flock, for it is your good Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32). Again He says, I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18). He sent them the Holy Spirit and fulfilled His promise: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses (Acts 1:8). This is an active, dynamic power that gives us victory over sin and urges us to be witnesses.

He blesses them with peace: The Lord will bless His people with peace(verse 11b). Only the far-away sinner fears the authority of this Almighty God, whom the angels praise, who sat and will sit to control all His cosmos; but as for His children, they have peace through His power and glory. When you have an unsolvable problem lift up your face to Him and say, O Lord, I will wait for You till I see how You are going to solve this one. Then He will come to you in His unique way to rescue you. It was God who delivered Noah from the Flood, Moses from Pharaoh, Daniel from the den of lions, and Peter from prison. Not a single time have His children been faced with a problem that was not solved. Not a single time has He abandoned His little flock: He is always upon His throne, caring for every and each one of His children. We today realise that we have the peace of Christ in the midst of the most violent of storms, as He said to His disciples in the ship that was tormented by the waves in the middle of the sea, It is I; do not be afraid (See Matthew 14:22-33). Again He said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you...let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). This peace does not derive from circumstances, but it is a gift from God in spite of the circumstances, because it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is when we receive Him into our heart that we obtain the promise: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

The psalmist mentions three things the guests should offer. Mention them.

Verses 10,11 tell about three things God blesses his people with. List them.

What David did to the Lord:

What the Lord did for David:

The theme of the song: Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name(verse 4). This song contains thanksgiving to God for His holiness of character, attributes and works. It also contains a continual remembrance of this holiness, and a declaration of the desire to obey the loving God. Believers should always remember that God is holy, and that He punishes them when they sin to purify them, as the psalmist said, Before I was afflicted I went astray (Psalm 119:67). The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death (Psalm 118:18). This holy God creates within us the desire to obey him and the willingness to do his good will. As we sing we call his holiness to remembrance and try to conform to it and adapt our actions to be in accordance with it, out of obedience to the divine command: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy (Leviticus 19:2), and Christ's command: Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

The occasion of the song: For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning(verse 5). David chose to fall into the hands of the Lord and get the punishment of a three-day plague, refusing any other punishment, for the anger of the Lord is but for a moment. He knew that his transgression was great, but God's pardon was greater because He is merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abounding in goodness...forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Exodus 34:6,7). Weeping endures for a night, but the night does not last long, and the light of daybreak must defeat the darkness of the night. Then those who weep will sing for joy and gratefulness, when they experience the fulfilment of the Lord's promise: 'For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,' says the Lord, your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7,8). Christ's promise also will be fulfilled with them, You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy (John 16:20). They will say, When I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me (Micah 7:8).

The wrong direction: Now in my prosperity I said, 'I shall never be moved.' Lord, by Your favour You have made my mountain stand strong(verses 6,7a). David had captured the stronghold of Zion from the Jebusites, which was a very protected place nine hundred meters above sea level, and captured also the city of Jerusalem which was built on five strong rocky hills. He fortified all of them enough, so that it became an excellent location as military fortifications go. So he said in the prosperity of the triumphant, I shall never be moved. God has given him the fortified city, and helped him fortify it even more. It seems that as soon as this was done he took the gift but forgot the Giver. He might have thought himself invulnerable because of his army between two great kingdoms- Babylon in the north, and Egypt in the south.

The right direction: You hid Your face, and I was troubled(verse 7b). The Hebrew uses nivhal, meaning terrified or amazed. David learned from the punishment of the plague that strength and protection come from the Lord alone. He realised who God was, and knew his own value and size. He thought that his destiny was up to himself, and felt secure and prosperous, but he found out that his security [Üelev in Hebrew] was in the Lord. What is a great city against a plague? Where are the military entrenchments? Where is the great army? Where is the people he numbered to recruit a bigger army? When the Lord hid his face, he was terrified despite all the material and military prosperity!

Incessant: I cried out to you, O Lord; and to the Lord I made supplication(verse 8). This was continual crying out and incessant supplication. He was forced by the punishment he got for numbering the people to resort to incessant prayer (1 Chronicles 21:16,17).

Sincere: What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth(verse 9). These are the words of King Hezekiah in (Isaiah 38:18,19). The Jews' knowledge of life after death was not sufficient. The Old Testament did not give its readers a clear vision of immortality; it was only Christ who enlightened life and immortality through the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:10).

Perhaps the psalmist meant something similar to Paul's puzzlement by his question: What I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you (Philippians 1:22-24). Will he choose death, which is far better? Or choose life to serve the believers? He chooses to live and be poured out on the sacrifice of the faith of the believers and offer God the service required of him.

Reverent: Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper(verse 10). King David kneels down before the King of kings who granted him this earthly kingdom. With all humility he asks for mercy and help. This is a prayer every believer can lift up, whether he be a preacher, someone writhing in pain on his sickbed or someone in grief, stricken by worries. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

The psalmist rejoices: You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent(verses 11,12a). The psalmist lamented when he was punished; he slapped himself and beat his chest in sorrow. But as the Lord removed the punishment from him, he began to dance for joy. He was clothed in sackcloth (a cloth of hair worn by someone in mourning under his clothes as a sign of defeat and humiliation), but as the Lord removed sorrow from him, he dressed himself with a sash to dance for exultation. His soul (glory) rejoiced and could not keep silent any more. When the Lord shows mercy to his people, their souls rejoice from within, because He clothes them with a garment of joy from without, and says, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified (Isaiah 61:3). To the end that my glory [spirit] may sing praise to You and not be silent.

The psalmist repeats his thanksgiving: O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever(verse 12b). The psalmist repeats his thanks, and promises the Lord to keep this thankfulness forever, here on earth, as long as he lives, and there in heaven before the throne of the great God. And there shall be no more curse...They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever (Revelations 22:3-5).

In verses 1-3 David mentions what he did for god and what God did for him. List these deeds.

How does David say God answered him (verses 11,12)?