132_The value of a promise Lev 27:1-3 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons, 3 then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. 32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord. 33 One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.” It was a warm summer evening in the quaint chapel of a small countryside village. A young couple stood at the altar and exchanged vows. “For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…” The words rolled off their lips, promises made not just to each other, but before God and witnesses. Without hesitation, they expressed their determination to live in love, hope, and perseverance. Fast forward ten years. Life had thrown its curveballs. Yet they remembered the vow every day. That memory carried weight, gave strength, and steadied their feet through life’s storms. Sincere promises have power to mould character and change lives. Today we live in a culture where promises are often made in haste and forgotten with ease. Vows are treated like tissue paper—convenient, disposable, and not something to take seriously. But Scripture reveals, especially in Leviticus 27, that vows are sacred. How we treat them reveals a lot about the state of our hearts. Leviticus 27 is the final chapter of this book. Hitherto filled with intricate laws, detailed sacrifices, and holy instructions given at Mount Sinai, Leviticus ends with a chapter dealing with voluntary vows. It addresses those moments when someone, moved by gratitude, desperation, or deep reverence, chooses to offer something to God—not because they must, but because they want to. A vow, as presented here, is a solemn promise made to God—often involving the dedication of a person, animal, property, or some possession. It was a way of saying, “Lord, if you will help me, I will honor you in return.” Or, “God, because you have blessed me, I want to give this back to you.” Jacob, fleeing his home, was alone and afraid as he slept that night in the wilderness. He awoke after seeing a vision of a ladder with the Lord standing at the top. The Lord affirmed that he would bless Jacob and bring him back safely home. Naming the place Bethel, the house of God, Jacob vowed, “If God will be with me… then the Lord

433_The way of the righteous Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Some years ago, a young man stood at the crossroads—literally and spiritually. He had received two job offers. One promised rapid career growth, high pay, and prestige, but it came from a company known for its unethical practices and cutthroat culture. The other was modest—a smaller company, lower pay—but with a reputation for integrity, sound leadership, and meaningful work. As he prayerfully tried to make a decision, a verse from Psalm 1 came to his heart: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…” That verse became his compass, and though the choice seemed foolish to many, the young man chose the second path. Years later, not only did his work flourish, but so did his life—his family, peace of mind, and spiritual growth. That one decision at a moral crossroads marked the beginning of a blessed journey on what Scripture calls “the way of the righteous.” The book of Psalms is perhaps the most read and most loved portion of the Bible. They speak to our hearts in unique ways. The Hebrew title for the Psalms is Tehillim, which means “praises,” revealing the central role these songs played in public worship in the Temple. Indeed, the Psalms are not theological discourses; they are songs—saturated with emotion, longing, repentance, joy, and praise. In fact, King David, when handing over the plans for the Temple, emphasized praise and worship when he gave detailed instructions about the temple and about worship. Out of 38,000 Levites over the age of thirty, he appointed many to praise the Lord, saying, “4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments I have made for praise.” During King Hezekiah’s reform, the Levites were commanded to sing “praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the seer.” Worship through music is not an expression of art but an act of the spirit. Psalm 1 reminds us that worship goes hand in hand with righteousness. It sets the tone for all that follows by drawing a clear line between two ways of life: righteousness and wickedness. There is no middle ground. The psalm begins not with what the righteous man does, but what he does not do. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands

434_Submit to God while there is time Psalm 2:1-12 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. In 79 A.D. the Roman city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash from the sudden and catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Archaeologists tell us that, despite the tremors and signs of volcanic activity leading up to the event, people went on with life as usual—eating, drinking, and going about business—believing they had time. Some even fled but later returned, thinking the worst was over. But then came the final blast. It was sudden, inescapable, and utterly devastating. Among the ruins, the remains of people were found in mid-action—some clutching their valuables, some frozen in postures of panic, and others seemingly unaware that the moment of judgment had arrived. What makes Pompeii's tragedy so haunting is not just the scale of destruction, but the fact that many ignored the warnings. But time ran out. Psalm 2 is a similarly stern warning that the Sovereign King of the universe will take up the reins of judgment. His judgment is not random or chaotic; it is deliberate and righteous. And it is announced ahead of time with clarity and mercy. Though the psalm itself does not name its author, Acts 4 attributes it to David. As originally written, it reflects the resistance of surrounding nations to David's rule. But we quickly realize that its vision extends far beyond David’s reign. It describes the age-old rebellion against God and his Anointed One—the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is an attitude that affects decisions made on earth, and has eternal consequences. The psalm opens with the nations and their leaders plotting in vain against the Lord and His Anointed. With open defiance, they plan, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” This is the language of those who see the rule of their creator as bondage, his law as unlawful chains. And how true this is

435_Trusting God’s salvation in distress Psalm 3 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah Years ago, in the Korean War, a young soldier found himself surrounded by the enemy. His entire unit had been wiped out, and he was the only one left alive. Wounded, cold, and terrified, he crawled into a foxhole and whispered. “God, if you’re real, please help me.” Somehow, coat tightly wrapped around him, he fell asleep, despite the gunfire in the distance. Morning came, and to his shock, he was still alive. The enemy had passed him by in the dark. Later, he would often say, “That night, I knew God was my shield. I should have died—but I slept like a child.” These words echo the opening verses of Psalm 3. “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.” The psalm dates from the darkest moments in King David’s life—a time of betrayal and humiliation by his own son Absalom, who claimed the throne. Yet it testifies to his trust in God's salvation in deep distress. Psalm 3 and 4 are often referred to as the morning and evening psalms. The attempted coup by Absalom was the bitter fruit of David’s earlier sins. Years before, David took Bathsheba to his bed while she was still married to Uriah, one of his greatest soldiers. He fathered a child by her and plotted the death of her husband lest his own sin be discovered. For nearly nine months, David continued as if nothing had happened—until the prophet Nathan confronted him. When Nathan said, “You are the man,” and David realized that God had not overlooked his sin all along, his heart broke in repentance. Ashamed and penitent, he pleads, in Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart, O God… restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Although David was forgiven, Nathan also declared the consequences for the blasphemy he had brought on the Lord’s name, since he was known everywhere to be the Lord’s servant: “The sword shall never depart from your house.” His daughter Tamar was violated by her half-brother and his eldest son, Amnon, who was killed in revenge by Tamar’s brother Absalom. Now Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people and was hunting him down. David fled Jerusalem barefooted and weeping. As he and his loyal men crossed the

436_Satisfied in God Psalm 4 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! 2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah 3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. 4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” 7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. What does it mean to be truly satisfied? Most people think it lies in the right circumstances—good health, financial security, harmonious relationships, or success in career or ministry. When something shifts—unmet expectations, sudden chaos, or pain—peace evaporates, and frustration sets in. There was once a painting competition for children based on the theme, “The Beauty of Serenity.” Most children portrayed images of stillness and beauty—a still lake at sunset, a great forest, a garden blooming with flowers, a mother with her sleeping baby in her arms. One drawing stood out. It depicted a sea tossed violently by storm, waves crashing against the jagged cliffs. Nestled in a cleft of the rock, shielded from wind and waves, was a nest on which sat a tiny bird, looking out at the stormy sea and sky and singing. True serenity isn’t never having storms, but experiencing security amidst chaos. It is the joy that sings in the dark. It is the life of the soul satisfied not by the external, but in God who shelters and shields. This is the heart of Psalm 4. David, the man after God’s own heart, finds himself surrounded by trouble. His son Absalom seized the throne, and slept with his father’s wives in a tent pitched in public view, signaling his complete breach with his father. In this, he was following the strategy of Ahithophel, once David’s trusted counselor. Abandoned by friends and allies, David was fleeing Jerusalem, crossing the Jordan, into the wilderness. And still he had to protect and provide for the loyal band who refused to leave him. Yet, instead of a heart overwhelmed by fear and broken by betrayal, the prayer reveals quiet confidence and trustful strength. “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!” His first response is not panic, but prayer—anchored in who God is and what he has done. He is “the God of my righteousness,” the vindicator. David’s memory brings up the unfailing salvation of God, right from delivering David

437_A heartfelt prayer Psalm 5 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. 4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. 9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. When we pour out our hearts to God in honesty and trust, our words and our groans express the attitude of the heart accurately. Thus, Psalm 5 invites us into the deeply personal world of prayer. The psalm expresses groans and sighs more than polished phrases. David pleads, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my groaning.” He does not try to impress God. He is not performing a religious ritual or reciting a prayer. He is simply pouring out his heart, threatened, weary, and desperate. When we suffer betrayal, slander, criticism, or physical danger, we hit back by instinct. We try to defend ourselves if possible, and strike back. But David’s response is that of a godly man. He brings his pain to the Lord. He does not let the deep hurt control him. As he bows, weeping, before God, he knows that even his tears are understood by God. As Romans 8:26 reminds us, “The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” David’s relationship with God is not that of a superstitious adherent of a distant or abstract deity but as the servant of “my King and my God.” David, king of Israel, understood that his authority was delegated. He ruled only by God’s appointment and for God’s glory. His position was not one of entitlement but of dependence. He says, “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” His first waking thought was of God, but with great reverence and love. He did not come empty-handed before his King

438_A prayer drenched in tears Psalm 6 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? 4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. In the biography of Leonard RavenhillI, Light of Eternity, it is recounted how he used to pass by the Salvation Army building in a poor cotton town in England. This was one of the largest of its kind outside London. At the front stood two large stones. One bore the inscription: “William Booth of the Salvation Army opened this corps, 1910.” The other stone read: “Kate and Mary Jackson, officers in this corps.” Kate and Mary Jackson were two young women sent to serve in that poverty-stricken place. They worked with all their strength. They did everything they had been trained to do. They organized meetings, taught, evangelized, and served the poor. But nothing changed. They could see no fruit. After a couple of years of exhausting effort, they were discouraged and desperate. They wrote to General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, asking to be transferred to another place. Back came a telegram: “Try tears.” Kate and Mary didn’t just pray—they travailed. They wept. They poured out their souls in anguish and desperation. And the broken town stirred at last, not because of new strategies or better sermons, but because God answered the prayer of the broken heart. This is the essence of Psalm 6. It is not a neat, composed prayer. It is not polished or formal. It is drenched in tears. Psalm 6 is the first of what we call the penitential psalms, that includes also Psalms 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. It opens with a trembling cry: “O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.” Here is David, the man after God’s own heart, burdened with guilt, fear, and anguish. Both his body and his soul are in torment. “Be gracious to me, O Lord,” he pleads, “for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.” And then he adds: “My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long?” In that place where the pain runs so deep it feels like your very

439_Responding to slander and lies Psalm 7 O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, 2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. 3 O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, 4 if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah 6 Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. 7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high. 8 The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. 9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! 10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. 12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; 13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. 14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 15 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. 16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. 17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. A man once visited his rabbi, burdened by the guilt of having spread a false rumor about someone in his community. He wanted to know how he could make things right. The rabbi handed him a feather pillow and asked him to cut it open and shake its contents out the window. The man did as he was told, and feathers flew in every direction. “Now,” said the rabbi, “go and gather every feather.” The man looked at him in shock. “That’s impossible!” he replied. The rabbi nodded and said, “Exactly. Words, once spoken are like those feathers. You can’t get them all back.” Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Words can breathe encouragement and hope, but they can also crush spirits and destroy lives. Slander is a weapon that leaves deep wounds. It can shred a person’s reputation and destroy trust. These wounds are invisible, but they pierce the soul. David, the man after God’s own heart, describes this pain in Psalm 7. It is his cry to God when he is falsely accused by a man named Cush from the tribe

440_Man created for God’s glory Psalm 8 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Years ago, a well-known astronomer lectured publicly on the universe. He spoke about galaxies billions of light-years away, of stars thousands of times larger than our sun, of nebulae that glowed with colors we would never see with the naked eye. After the lecture, a small boy approached him timidly and asked, “Sir, if the universe is so big and we are so small, do we really matter at all?” The astronomer had no answer. But Psalm 8 does. David, the shepherd-king of Israel, asked the same question centuries earlier as he looked up into the night sky. His heart was overwhelmed with of all he saw. But he also realized that God, the Maker of so much beauty and grandeur, cares about man. It is an astonishing truth. God knows each of us, not in general but personally and thoroughly. This is not because of our greatness - but because God is great. Psalm 8 opens and closes with the same majestic refrain: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” David begins with an upward look rather than looking inward at himself. His gaze is filled with God. He calls him “Yahweh,” by the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush, the name by which God made a covenant with his people Israel. He also calls him “Adonai,” meaning Master or Sovereign. He is the God who exists of himself, uncreated, sovereign, the God and King of Israel and of all the earth. God, eternal and uncreated, wise beyond all measure, immeasurably creative, — the One who made galaxies and atoms, the One whose voice thunders and whispers — makes Himself known to human beings. More than that, He has entered into a covenant with them. And this is of his own free choice. God’s name, expressing His character and His deeds, is recognized as that of the king, unique in all the earth. When God delivered Israel at the Red Sea, they sang, “Who is like you, O Lord,

441_God remembers His people Psalm 9 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Years ago, during the Second World War, a Dutch woman named Corrie ten Boom and her family were arrested by the Nazis for hiding Jews in their home. Her father died soon after. Her beloved older sister died after a year of great suffering in Ravensbrück, the notorious women’s labor camp. There were days of starvation, humiliation, and unspeakable cruelty. In the depths of that darkness, having lost everything, Corrie was sustained by the simple truth: God remembers His people. She would later write, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Psalm 9, written by King David, echoes this same deep conviction— in the most desperate situation, facing the strongest enemy, God remembers His people. This song of praise is a bold declaration of faith in a God who sees, who judges rightly, and who never forgets the afflicted. David begins this Psalm not with complaints or fears but with wholehearted praise. “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” His exuberant and deeply personal words reflect his ingrained awareness that God’s deliverances had been too many to allow doubt or block his full-throated praise. This passionate worship was on display when David danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it entered Jerusalem. During the first attempt, God struck down Uzzah for touching the ark, reminding David of the reverence with which God is to be approached. The second time, he danced for joy, unashamed. Half-hearted worship does not do justice to God’s wholehearted love. He has saved us, preserved us, and shown us mercy. We cannot help but respond with our whole hearts. David says in verse 5, “You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted

442_God the helper of the fatherless Psalm 10 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. 4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” 5 His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” 7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; 9 he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. 10 The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. 11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” 12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. 13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. 16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. A few years ago, a little boy named Sam stood in the hallway of a crowded courtroom in a foster care building, clutching a worn-out teddy bear. He was just six years old. He had been abused, neglected, and abandoned. That day, a decision was to be made—would he be sent back to a home that had failed him, or would someone finally intervene on his behalf? A volunteer advocate, a kind woman in her late fifties, bent down and said to him, “Don’t worry, Sam. I’m here to speak up for you.” For the first time in a long while, he felt some hope. Later that day, the judge gave him into the care of a foster family that had been waiting to welcome him. As they walked out together, the advocate said something Sam never forgot: “Even when it feels like no one sees, God

443_God’s righteousness is a refuge to the righteous Psalm 11 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. In 2011, a tsunami hit Japan. One of the videos that went viral showed a man standing on the rooftop of a sturdy building. Waves crashed around him, and debris swept through entire neighborhoods. While screams of panic rent the air, he stood calm, just because the structure beneath his feet held firm. That’s what Psalm 11 is all about. When social and moral order seems to be collapsing, chaos all around, and evil seems to be winning, the righteous stand strong because they have a firm foundation. The psalm begins with confidence. “In the Lord I take refuge,” he says, and asks his unnamed adviser why he should flee “like a bird to its mountain.” David’s friend warns, “The wicked have bent their bows. The foundations are being destroyed. What can the righteous do?” When laws are ignored, when violence is applauded, when standing for truth brings mockery and hardship, what can the righteous possibly do but run? But David’s answer is simple. “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven.” God’s throne stands firm, on its foundation of righteousness and justice. He is still sovereign over the world he made. David doesn’t deny the danger. He acknowledges the wicked are aiming in the dark, seeking to destroy. But his eyes are lifted higher, to the throne of God. Despite the turmoil below, God is still in control. This is the root of hope. David reminds us that “His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man.” These words remind us that God is not a distant observer. He is carefully observing and discerning what goes on in the hearts of all people. Far from being a passive gaze, the divine examination has a purpose. Verse 5 is key: “The Lord tests the righteous.” Throughout Scripture, we see God testing those He loves — not to punish or destroy them, but to strengthen them. In Zechariah 13:9, we read, “I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” The end of testing is deep-seated and steadfast trust

444_Man’s words vs God’s words Psalm 12 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” 5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” 6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7 You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. 8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man. In the early 1940s, World War II was crushing Europe. A young German pastor named Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood before his small underground congregation. The Nazi propaganda machine was in full force, filling the airwaves with lies, half-truths, and a twisted version of morality that exalted power, crushed dissent, and redefined evil as good. In the face of that cultural pressure, despite the danger, Bonhoeffer boldly declared, “The Word of God is a sword, and it cuts through every lie.” Psalm 12 reflects not just David’s world, but that of today. Truth is scarce, flattery is a currency, and words are crafted to conceal, deceive, manipulate, and dominate, rather than to bless or heal. In such a world, God’s Word remains the only trustworthy anchor. The psalm begins with a cry of desperation: “Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.” Evil seems so widespread, so unchecked, that it feels like there’s no one left to stand for what is right. Yet there are always those, like the 7,000 in Elijah’s day, who haven’t bowed their knees to Baal—but they are in hiding. As Proverbs 28:28 puts it, “When the wicked rise, people hide themselves.” In this atmosphere, truth-speaking seems to be almost extinct. “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” These aren’t meant to politely pass over unpleasant realities or make the other person feel better when faced with embarrassment. These are calculated distortions and carefully planned flatteries. They arise from a double heart that says nice things to one’s face but conceals cruel and destructive motives. Whether in politics, media, business, or religious circles, words are denied their only true function, of being vessels of truth. They are used as weapons to influence and oppress others. Sound bites and spin are more powerful than facts. Image trumps substance. “With our tongue we will prevail,” they say. “Our lips are with us; who is master over us?” These words reflect arrogant independence, a belief that the speaker reshapes reality with clever speech and persuasive rhetoric. The tongue becomes an idol. But the

445_God’s delays are not his absence Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. A young girl planted a seed in a small pot on her windowsill. Each day, she watered the soil and sat by the pot, watching, waiting, expecting. When nothing happened even after a week, she grew restless. Two weeks in, still nothing. She tapped the soil, poked at it gently, and even tried moving the pot to different windows to catch better sunlight. Finally, she gave up. But her grandmother quietly continued to water it. A week later, a tiny green sprout appeared. The seed was never dead—it was just working in silence. Waiting for deliverance can be frustrating, sometimes agonizing. Especially when you feel forgotten. Especially when there is no answer, though you pray persistently, and trust God with your deepest desires. Yet heaven remains silent. Psalm 13 voices this cry. Four times in just two verses, David asks, “How long, O Lord?” The question breathes his feeling of abandonment. Like many of us, when God delays, David starts to wonder: Has God forgotten me? When we are overcome by our foes, we assume God isn’t listening. We confuse His silence for indifference and His delays for rejection. But Scripture repeatedly shows us that God’s delays are not His denials. Often, they are the sign of his deep, loving work in our lives, hidden beneath the surface, preparing us for something greater than we imagined. Jacob’s favorite son Joseph was sent dreams that prophesied his future greatness. He was favored with intelligence, charm, and administrative capacity. He was honest, diligent and obedient. Yet he was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and unjustly imprisoned. For years, his life seemed to spiral further away from God’s promises. Once, it looked like a break might come. He rightly interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, and the cupbearer was restored to Pharaoh’s favor. But he forgot to intercede for Joseph’s release. Hope turned into disappointment. Two more years passed in that prison. From a human perspective, those years seem to be a waste, a cruel delay. Yet God had his great purposes. If released earlier, Joseph might have gone home to resume his life as a shepherd. But he was destined to save his clan, God’s chosen people, from extinction. During the years in Egypt, including his time in prison, Joseph learned the management of a large semi-royal household, the culture of the palace, the

446_Consequences of rejecting God Psalm 14 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? 5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. A man on a hiking trip with his friends stood for a moment, gazing at the starlit sky. He murmured, almost without meaning to himself, “Do you really think all of this just happened by chance?” His question lingered in the cold air like smoke from a dying fire. What followed wasn’t a debate but a deep and honest conversation. What if God is real? And if He is, how should that change our lives? Such conversations have echoed in every generation. But Scripture declares a sobering truth. This is the jarring line with which Psalm 14 begins. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” David does not speak here of philosophical atheism, but something far deeper and more dangerous: the practical rejection of God’s presence and authority in our inner lives. There's a difference between questioning God's existence and rejecting Him in our hearts. A questioning heart may still be seeking truth, but a rejecting heart has turned away. And that rejection doesn't just affect what we think; it shapes our morality, how we live. It produces moral rottenness, in the form of corruption, injustice, and spiritual blindness. There’s a form of practical atheism that is even more dangerous than theoretical disbelief. If people profess faith in God, take part in religious observances, and pray regularly, yet if their hearts do not revere him and if they do not acknowledge His presence in their everyday choices, they reveal that they are living as though he is absent in this universe. As Alexander Maclaren said, “To strip Him of His justice and rob Him of His control is the part of a fool. For the Biblical conception of folly is moral perversity rather than intellectual feebleness, and whoever is morally and religiously wrong cannot be in reality intellectually right.” To reject God in our hearts is not merely a philosophical error. It is to become spiritually blind and morally adrift. This is why David goes on to write, “They are corrupt; their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” Without the fear of God, there is no good in man. All noble actions in human life have their source

447_Who will abide with the Lord? Psalm 15 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Years ago, a well-known British preacher was invited to speak at a large evangelical conference. As he stood on the platform before thousands, he asked: “If you could choose to spend a day with anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be?” Murmurs and whispers filled the air. After a minute, he went on: “The God who made the heavens and the earth calls you, not just to spend a day with him, but to live with him forever. How will you respond to that invitation?” This is the very heart of Psalm 15. King David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, asks the greatest question of all: “O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1). Who gets to live with God? It’s not merely about a visit to the house of the Lord, but remaining in close, ongoing fellowship with the Creator. This is the deepest longing of the human soul, though it often goes unrecognized. From the very beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. They were created to be in his image. They would come to see the world through his eyes. They would know reality through his wisdom. But sin entered the world through unbelief and disobedience. In eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they chose to know right and wrong apart from God. That choice broke apart their relationship with their Maker, and brought death into the world. The pain of this loss has never left the human heart. The ache in David’s question echoes this longing. And David answers by describing the qualifications - not in terms of nationality, status, achievements, or religious rituals, but of character. The first step is the visible life: “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right.” The one who seeks God lives with integrity. His actions reflect moral uprightness. The next words carry us from outward behavior to inner truth: “...and speaks truth in his heart.” Speaking truth in our hearts goes beyond verbal honesty. For the godly, life is shaped by inward sincerity, where motives align with godly values. The story of Doeg the Edomite illustrates the opposite of this. When David fled from Saul and sought provisions from the priest Ahimelech, Doeg witnessed the encounter. Later, when Saul asked his servants for information about

448_Pleasures at His right hand Psalm 16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” 3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. 5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Many years ago, the famous missionary Jim Elliot wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” And he did. At the age of 28, Jim Elliot was killed by the very tribe he sought to reach with the gospel. But his story didn’t end in a jungle clearing in Ecuador. It lives on in the testimony of a man who found joy in doing the will of God. It lives on in the testimony of scores of people from that tribe who came to know and love the Lord that Jim Elliot obeyed. He looked forward, not to the highest offerings of this world, but to the pleasures of being in God’s presence forever. Psalm 16 is not the cry of a desperate man clinging to survival, but a joyful hymn of undiluted praise, from one who has tasted something better than life itself. David may have written this psalm in a time of difficulty—he opens with a plea, “Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge”—but his tone makes this a song of delight. For he knew, as Jim Elliot knew, that fullness of joy is in doing the will of God. David begins by saying, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” The NKJV puts it even more strikingly: “My goodness is nothing apart from You.” David, a king, a warrior, a poet, traces all that is good in his life and in his heart to the Divine presence. The Spirit’s fruit is goodness, originating not in our sinful decisions but in the fear of the Lord. Goodness is fruited as we turn away from loving our own will to delighting in His. This fact creates a deep bond between God's people. “As for the saints in the land,” he says, “they

449_Satisfied with His likeness Psalm 17 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 12 He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. 13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, 14 from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. 15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. Some years ago, a famous American businessman who had amassed incredible wealth was interviewed. He had everything—real estate, private jets, luxury cars, and access to power. When asked what he still longed for, he replied: “Just a little more.” That phrase stuck with me. Just a little more, says every man—whether money, fame, recognition, pleasure, or security. But there’s a deeper question underneath that craving: What, if anything, will ever truly satisfy us? King David also had everything—success, status, songs written in his honor, military victories. Yet in Psalm 17, we find that his longing was not for more of everything. He wanted something much greater - to behold the face of God in righteousness, and to be satisfied with His likeness. Psalm 17 begins as a plea: “Hear a just cause, O Lord!” Indeed, the psalm reads like a man in a king’s court, crying to the king for justice. David is surrounded by enemies and under threat. Rather than resorting to revenge, or seeking human help, he turns to God the righteous judge. He does not hope for partiality, but puts his hope in God’s knowledge of his innocence. It is not that he is sinless. Rather, in this matter, he knows he has done nothing to provoke his enemy. And he knows that God hears the prayer of

450_God gives strength and skill Psalm 18: 25-36 With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 26 with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 27 For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 28 For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. 29 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— 32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. 33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. 36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. Eric Liddell was an Olympic gold medalist, missionary, and inspiration for the film Chariots of Fire. Born to Scottish missionaries in China, he wanted to serve God with all his heart. He became a world-class sprinter. Yet, in the 1924 Paris Olympics, he refused to run his best event, the 100-meter race, because the heat was scheduled on a Sunday. He believed that the Lord’s Day was meant for worship and rest. That decision made headlines. People mocked and castigated him. But he stood firm in his convictions. Later, he ran the 400-meter race instead—an event he wasn’t expected to win—and set a world record. Eric once said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” That statement captures the truth that God manifests his skill, beauty and strength through us, to fulfil his creative pleasure, to show his grace and his power. As we walk in obedience to his will, he enables us to accomplish what we were never meant to do alone. Psalm 18 is David’s intensely personal version of that story. He knew that every victory in his life was achieved in God’s strength and through God-taught skill. This song commemorates the day when the Lord delivered him from all his enemies, and from the hand of King Saul. Interestingly, Saul is mentioned separately, perhaps because David never did consider him or treat him as his enemy. To David, Saul was God’s anointed, until the day he died. His heart was trained in the ways of God. To put this psalm in context, David was anointed by the prophet Samuel when he was a lad. But he didn't become king until he was 30. Through many years of hardship under the threat of king Saul, he stayed barely a step ahead of death, as he

451_Our response to God’s revelation Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Several years ago, a group of scientists set up a telescope in a remote desert, far from the light pollution of the city, to capture a better view of the stars. On a cold, clear night, one of the researchers gazed at the night sky through the lens. After a long moment, he said to a colleague, “It’s so vast… it almost feels like Someone is trying to say something.” An atheist by conviction, he had stumbled across the truth that creation does speak. The question is: Are we listening? Psalm 19 reflects on how God has revealed Himself to us—and more importantly, how we ought to respond to that revelation. The psalm opens our eyes to two primary ways God makes Himself known: through His creation and through His Word. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” The glory of God here refers not to something vague or mystical, but to the very essence of who God is—His love, power, creativity, intelligence, and wisdom. The universe is God’s canvas, painted with purpose and beauty. And the skies—the sun, moon, and stars—speak daily of His creative skill This revelation is not limited to a privileged few but is given to all alike. The sun rises and sets every day, its presence and warmth experienced by all. The moon glows in the night, and the stars sparkle like

452_Whose battles are we fighting? Psalm 20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! 3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah 4 May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! 5 May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! 6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. 9 O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call. A young soldier was deployed in a war zone. On the eve of a major battle, he sought a quiet corner to read his Bible and pray, while others around him were joking in an effort to keep up their courage, or looking over their gear. When asked why he wasn’t anxious like the others, he replied, “My battle was fought last night. I settled with God that I’m not fighting for myself—I’m fighting where He leads.” He survived the battle. Later, he spoke of the peace he experienced during that battle. It came from his trust in the Lord whom he served. Psalm 20 reflects this calm assurance. This prayerful song may have been sung by the people of Israel before they set out for war. The focus is not on fighting harder, or training better. Rather, it opens with a cry for divine intervention: “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!” (v.1). Rather than being about the strategies and weapons of successful battles, the psalm reveals the unseen wars of the heart, where priorities are set and where trust is exercised. The writer knows what are the battles that we really fight. The people’s voice makes it clear: “We will shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners!” They are united in fighting behind the banner of the king whom God has appointed over them. Yet their hope is not in his strategies or military strength. Rather, they rally in the name of God, who will answer, help, and uphold the king. They recognize that unless the Lord fights for them, no victory is certain. The psalm speaks of burnt offerings to God, a sacrifice completely consumed on the altar. This symbolizes total devotion, a heart dear to God. Not ritual without relationship, not religious activity without heart. True worship isn’t about merely words of worship, but aligning our actions, desires, and plans with God’s will. And thus verse 4 is a prayer: “May he grant you your heart’s

453_Rejoicing in His strength Psalm 21 O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 2 You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 3 For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 4 He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. 5 His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6 For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. 8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9 You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. 11 Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. 12 For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows. 13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. Charles Spurgeon once told a story about a humble village blacksmith. Every day, the man labored with fire and hammer, pounding metal into shape. His arms were strong, his back muscled with years of service. One evening, someone asked him, “How do you continue to work so tirelessly every day?” The blacksmith, pausing and wiping the sweat off his brow, pointed upward and said, “All my strength is borrowed. It is He who lends it daily.” That response humbles and empowers. Instead of celebrating his own strength, independence, and willpower, the blacksmith was assured of the truth - strength comes from God. Psalm 21 celebrates victory—not as a monument to human effort, but as a testimony to divine power. Psalm 21 is a continuation of Psalm 20. In Psalm 20, the people cry out to God, interceding on behalf of their king—asking God to grant him victory and fulfill his heart’s desire. It’s a picture of dependence and expectation. But in Psalm 21, that cry turns into praise. The prayers have been answered. The battle is over. Victory has been granted. The people are rejoicing. The king exults in the Lord’s strength. David, though a seasoned and mighty warrior, never credited himself for his triumphs. “O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!” (v. 1). This is not the voice of a man boasting in his accomplishments but the voice of a heart surrendered to divine help. David knew he was fighting the Lord’s battles, and because of that, the Lord would provide strength and victory. This psalm lays bare the relationship between David and his God. In Psalm 20, the people

454_Hallelujah! What a Savior Psalm 22:1-8 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 27-31 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. A few years ago, a young missionary couple living in a remote African village in Africa lost their first child. Their grief was deep and raw. But those who knew them saw not just their sorrow—but their worship. A few days later, they knelt beside that tiny grave and sang, “Man of Sorrows, what a name, for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim—Hallelujah, what a Savior.” That hymn, sung through tears, testified their knowledge that the Lord was still their faithful, present, and victorious Savior. Likewise, Psalm 22 opens in the pit of despair but ends with the shout of victory. It begins with “Why have You forsaken me?” and ends with “He has done it!” As the Lord cried out on the cross, “It is finished!” The psalm has two distinct movements. The first part, from verse 1 to 21, is a lament of abandonment and suffering. The second part, from verse 22 onward, is a song of triumph, a proclamation of praise and of resurrection hope. David may have written these words in the anguish of betrayal, perhaps fleeing from Saul or Absalom. Yet his words, intense and poetic as they are, stretch far beyond his own experience. 1 Peter 1:10-11 explains how the prophets “searched and inquired carefully” about the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. The Spirit of Christ in David pointed forward—across a thousand years—to the day Jesus Christ would hang on a Roman cross. Quotations from Psalm 22 abound in the New Testament. The Gospel writers saw in it the crucifixion, described in graphic detail in verses 12 to 18- though

455_The Good Shepherd Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Years ago, a well-known actor stood on stage before a packed audience. His resonant voice and commanding presence held his audience. That night, he was asked to recite something from memory. He chose to recite the 23rd Psalm. His performance was flawless. With poise and flair, he spoke the beautiful old words, each word measured, each pause intentional. When he finished, the audience erupted in applause. Later that evening, an elderly pastor was invited to the same stage and asked to say anything he chose. He chose the same psalm. His voice was failing, and his frame frail. At the end, there was no applause. There was silence, followed by the sound of soft weeping across the room. When someone wondered aloud later why the responses had been so different, the actor told them, “I knew the Psalm. He knew the Shepherd.” Psalm 23 is not merely beautiful poetry; it is personal testimony of trust and truth. It reflects a relationship to be experienced. And this relationship begins with one powerful word: “my.” “The Lord is my shepherd.” Psalm 23 is central to a triad of psalms. Psalm 22 paints the picture of the suffering of the Christ who was pierced for our transgressions. Psalm 24 reveals the returning King in glory, ascending the hill of the Lord. Nestled between them is Psalm 23, the reality of life with the Good Shepherd who came to seek and to save that which was lost. This reflects God’s order, for without the crucifixion there could never have been redemption for the flock that had gone astray. And through the cross and resurrection the Lord has been raised to the highest place in heaven and earth. David was a shepherd himself. He had spent days and nights caring for vulnerable sheep—leading them, protecting them, providing for them. Their safety and well-being of the sheep depended entirely on him. That is why everything in this Psalm flows from the declaration of the first verse. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Without this personal relationship with God, the rest of the psalm remains for the reader only poetry, not a promise. The world chases security through wealth, possessions, or status. Yet insecurity remains, plaguing even the richest and most powerful with insecurity, fear, and anxiety. In contrast, David was completely content, for he had a Shepherd. He had nothing

457_God guides the godly Psalm 25:1-15 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Have you ever tried navigating a dense forest without a map, compass, or guide? A group of hikers tried it once in the Appalachian Mountains. Confident in their GPS and a general sense of direction, they ignored the marked trail. A few hours in, their signal dropped. Every direction looked the same. It became dark. Panic set in. A fun weekend adventure became a desperate search for the way home. The turning point came when they decided to stay put, keep warm, and wait for help. Rangers found them the next morning, exhausted and humbled, but safe. They were easy to find because of their posture - of stillness, dependence, and expectation. In many ways, Psalm 25 is the cry of a soul that has decided to stop wandering and wait for divine help. David is not charging ahead in self-confidence. Instead, he pauses to think and to wait. He calls for guidance to the only one who knows the way. This psalm is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While this is perhaps a poetic technique to aid memorization, it also captures the A-to-Z of what it means to be guided by God. The psalm opens in a cry: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust.” This is all we can say once we learn that the only safety is in God. David declares his trust in God, as