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Psalm 11

More than once traveling between Roseburg and Winston I have felt the urge to just keep driving north or south and escaping the drudgery, the defeats, and the disturbances waiting for me. Prior to Absalom’s direct threat to his father David’s rule, there was a growing tension among the people of Israel. David’s friends urged him to flee before Absalom and his growing number of supporters confronted him. More than once David may have woken and wondered – why am I not simply running away?

David’s answer is expressed in the first exclamation: “I have taken refuge in the Lord. How can you say to me, “Escape to the mountain like a bird!” (Psalm 11:1, HCSB). To take refuge is the opposite of running. Taking refuge ‘in the Lord’ is not avoiding responsibility. Rather to ‘take refuge’ is to stand strong and accept responsibility.

None of us are immune from forces that aggressively seek to undermine our faith and hinder us from our God-given assignment. Enemies abound – often those of our own making! We ‘take refuge’ by remembering that though circumstances are challenging, God is still sovereign. ‘Taking refuge’ is standing firm knowing that success or failure is determined by God’s character of righteousness.

Escape is not the solution, as attractive as it sounds. No, the solution is deepening our trust. As a matter of fact, as David’s life demonstrates, it is through the drudgery, the defeats, and the disturbances that we discover God’s character.

Psalm 10

Distant. Apart. A ways off. Detached. Withdrawn. Remote. How many times have I asked God, “why do You stand so far away?” Why do You hide in times of trouble?” Perhaps it’s just the way I’m wired, maybe it’s the habits of mind I’ve acquired. The Psalmist asks the question and yet in the same prayer, the writer acknowledges, “But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands. The helpless entrusts himself to You; You are a helper of the fatherless.” (Psalm 10:14, HCSB).

Two images capture my attention. First, God ‘takes matters into His own hands.’ In my striving to lessen the distance I feel from God, He has taken the initiative by implanting in me His Holy Spirit. He offers Himself to me without reservation. Second, God is a ‘helper’ of the fatherless (see also Psalm 68:53, 82:3, 146:9). A father plays many roles in life. Provider, protector, peace-maker (I had two siblings while growing up and my parents adopted a child when I turned 20), and pattern. Many of those around us have never truly experienced a father. To those, and even for those whose earthly fathers were godly men, God offers Himself in the role of father.

Yes, there are days, weeks, and months when the wicked – defined in biblical Hebrew as one who threatens and takes life, one who disrupts the community – seem to push us farther and farther from God. In those moments when God seems distant take advantage of the truth – God is present at every moment in your life, and God will be for you all you need Him to be.

Psalm 9

“For the oppressed will not always be forgotten; the hope of the afflicted will not perish forever.” (Psalm 9:18, HCSB)

Summer sunshine, warm weather, clear skies may cover darkness, coldness, and clouded lives. Everything looks wonderful on the exterior, but many experience oppression and affliction. Exploitation occurs whether the sun shines or not. Pain is inflicted even under sunny skies. The season of darkness can appear to be endless even as others enjoy the bright, warm, and clear days of summer.

Often the only thread enabling some to survive is the hope affirmed by this psalmist. God’s people have always existed among nations that are hostile to the plan and purposes of God. Hope exists not because God’s people have within them any strength. Hope exists because God is, because God has revealed Himself, because He has proven Himself again and again.

Even in the brilliance of summer days, hope is a commodity necessary for life. God remembers, God promises, and God does act.

Psalm 8

Eugene Peterson’s translation renders vs 4 like this: “Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?” (Psalm 8:4, The Message). Why indeed would God – described by the psalmist as the One who has created this world in which we live – even give us a thought? Humans are insignificant in size compared to celestial objects like the moon, the sun, and the starts. Indeed, compared to other created beings humans are height and weight challenged.

Yet only humans were created ‘in the image of God’ (see Genesis 1:26-28). Only humans were created that we might have a relationship with God. The rest of creation can and does honor God by its very existence. Humans, however, honor and praise God with words, with deeds, and with obedience.

Why does God bother? He bothers because our praise – in word and deed – reflects His magnificence and His majesty.

Psalm 7

People my age and older remember ‘Camelot.’ The administration of President John F. Kennedy was a watershed era in American history. The shattering of that era with his assassination in 1963 still lingers in our memory.

Perhaps people in Israel felt that way about the reign of David – an unprecedented era of wonderfulness. The superscription of Psalm 7 mentions Cush, who is not identified anywhere else in Scripture, who, as a Benjamite, opposed David. Saul, the first anointed king of Israel was from the tribe of Benjamin. David had enemies, particularly from among the family of the king whom he replaced.

When confronted with enemies our first instinct is to fight back, to counter-attack. For every biting remark, we have at our disposal a host of words and phrases we want to use. We often spend hours daydreaming schemes so that we can retaliate.

As king, David had tools at his disposal to counter-attack the family of Saul. Instead, David found refuge in the power of God and the promise of God. David had waited nearly ten years between being anointed as king by the prophet Samuel and actually claiming the throne. During those years he was threatened by Saul and on several occasions almost killed by Saul. Instead of taking advantage of opportunities granted, David chose to wait, trusting that God would do as He promised.

David’s victories, beginning with his killing of Goliath and continuing throughout his career as Saul’s commander and through his own reign were reminders of God’s constant presence in David’s life..

often immobilize us with fear. Our adversary is not ashamed to use those who live around us – even those who may be closest to us – to destroy us.

Are we confident enough in what we know about God’s nature to trust Him when attacked?

Psalm 6

How long?

Moments turn into days that lengthen into weeks and months. These seasons, described by the psalmist in this prayer, begins with physical agony and quickly moves into spiritual distress. How long?

The season might begin with an unfounded attack by a friend that the rumor mill quickly circulates until it appears no one cares. Perhaps an illness strikes unexpectedly (aren’t they all unexpected?) and the pain and agony grow daily. How long?

The season may feel as though the enemy is God Himself. Some experiences are confusing. There are times when it is difficult to discern the difference between an adversary, a physical challenge, or a consequence of some unacknowledged sin. How long?

As the psalmist transitions from a sense of physical despair to an ever-increasing awareness of enemies, the writer seeks relief not from the hands of people but from the LORD, whose grace is sufficient, whose healing presence is promised, and whose loyal love (Hebrew:  חֶ֫סֶד, hesed) is an expression of His unchanging character. How long?

How long? The ‘when’ is uncertain, but the result is clear. The LORD hears, the LORD accepts (literally ‘takes’) our prayer on the basis of the completed work of Jesus Christ. From physical distress through internal anxiety and fear that threatens to overwhelm us we may ask, How long? The answer, in God’s good time.

At a stoplight cars begin to creep forward, anticipating the changing of the light. At Wal-Mart, we grumble because too few checkout lanes are staffed. Streaming entertainment services (finally) give us an opportunity to skip the interminable commercials. How often have you stood in front of the microwave, counting down the seconds until the process is finally finished?

“At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, HCSB)

When confronted with opposition our impatience grows exponentially. Enemies, obstacles, challenges are interruptions. If we pray at daybreak we anticipate answers before noon – at the latest. Watching expectantly needs to be limited to just a few moments. After all, we have important tasks to perform, important people to meet, and places to be.

This Psalm, a fitting prayer for any morning in our lives, calls us to wait. Wait patiently. We wait because we need perspective. Enemies abound. Interruptions are ceaseless. God hears our anxiety, God reads our innermost thoughts.

“But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You. Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my adversaries; make Your way straight before me.” (Psalm 5:7–8, HCSB)

In God’s presence, every interruption is transformed into an opportunity. Even enemies are no longer to be feared. In God’s presence, which we enter only because of His overwhelming grace, we are given shelter, He becomes our shield, He is the One who goes before us. We wait with expectancy because we know from our own past experiences and from the record of God’s faithfulness in the past that He will act, He will make Himself known. Enemies will be revealed for their unreliable nature. Adversaries who boast will be silenced. All we have to do is…

WAIT. God will act.  God will prove Himself faithful.

This Psalm, as the inscription suggests, was written to be sung: “To the Chief Musician. With Stringed Instruments. A Psalm of David. (NKJV). As one commentary suggests, Psalm 3 and 4 are to be paired together – Psalm 3 as a morning hymn and Psalm 4 as an evening prayer.

The Davidic morning hymn is now followed by a Davidic evening hymn. It is evident that they belong together from the mutual relation of 4:7 with 3:3, and 3:6 with 4:9. They are the only two Psalms in which the direct words of others are taken up into a prayer with the formula “many say,” רבים אמרים^[1]

Whether or not one prays these words in the morning or evening, we do understand the sense of hopelessness that emerges from living among a people where what is worthless is celebrated. Even though the culture around us often degenerates into worthless debates (see most social media sites) and as truth becomes harder to find among the fictions that seem so prevalent we can choose to be encouraged.

First, God has set apart (distinguished, separated) His own for Himself. We are reminded that because God has taken the initiative to act for us we can pray, we can ‘be still’ (vs 4), we can offer the sacrifice of a broken spirit (see Psalm 51:17) and the sacrifice of praise (see Hebrews 13:15).

Second, we are reminded that genuine joy is not the responsibility of others. God Himself is the source and sustainer of joy. In the world of David and the ancient near east, the harvest was often a time when families and communities would celebrate – the wait was over, the hard work had paid off. But there is a deeper joy for us because of God’s presence and God’s power to protect. Rather than react in anger we can simply rest in the assurance that God will fulfill His promises.

^[1] Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 5 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), 65.

Most of the enemies we face are self-created. This Psalm is identified as written when David was fleeing from his son, Absalom. But if you know the story of David his son’s rebellion was partly a result of a father’s neglect. The rebellion of his son caused David to question how deep his people’s loyalty would be and whether it was a sign of God’s withdrawal of His favor (remember, David had been part of the fall of Saul as God withdrew His favor).

Family is perhaps the most difficult and demanding part of our lives. While we are flooded with media images of healthy and vibrant families what most of us experience is slightly different. Fortunately for us, God’s Word allows us to see families at their best AND their worst.

David’s prayer expresses confidence in God’s protection as well as a slight apprehension. It is as though he expresses his confidence and trust in one breath but then cries out for immediate deliverance (vs 5-7). The last phrase of David’s prayer is for God’s blessing on His people. The most important issue for David is not resolving the conflict between him and his son but that God’s people might continue to experience the fullness of His presence.

As we look at this Psalm in our own family experience we can identify with the sense of isolation and loneliness when a family member chooses to distance themselves from us. Those moments of hurt are invitations from God to remember that He alone is our rest and refuge.

The coronation of a monarch is an important moment in the life of a nation. When ancient Israel enthroned a monarch, particularly a descendant of David, the nation’s surrounding Israel would take notice. Questions about the nature of the new monarch would be asked, and some nations, sensing an opportunity, might seek to start a conflict. Why do these nations rage? Why do they seek to destroy God’s people? God’s response to the raging of nations is simply to laugh. Nothing they can do will thwart God’s ultimate purpose from fulfillment.

People who came to faith in Jesus Christ after His resurrection and ascension used this Psalm as a prayer (see Acts 4:25-28);  by Paul as evidence that Jesus, the One God raised from the dead, is the One spoken on in Psalm 2 (Acts 13:330; by Paul as he sought to remind his readers in Rome of Jesus’ true nature (Romans 1:4); and as John the Beloved Disciple explained what he was when he saw Jesus in his vision (Revelation 12:5, 19:15).

In the original setting of the Psalm we are given a glimpse into the unyielding demand of God for worship. He created us to acknowledge His power and His presence. To laugh, to dis-regard Him, to ignore Him is to invite God’s judgment. We have been conditioned in our world to de-emphasize ‘judgment’ so that no one will be offended. As this Psalm so clearly illustrates, God will judge – on the basis of how people (monarchs and commoners alike) respond to His One and Only Son, whom God has appointed King of Kings and Lord of Lords.