Daily Devotional Podcasts

477_Praising God at all times Psalm 43 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! 2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Years ago, during one of the darkest seasons of her life, a woman named Annie Johnson Flint was diagnosed with severe arthritis that left her bedridden and in constant pain. She lost both her parents at a young age, was later adopted, and then lost those adoptive parents too. Her body slowly became twisted and immobile, and yet out of that pain emerged some of the most beautiful hymns ever written. One of her most beloved lines goes like this: “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.” What kind of faith produces praise like that in the midst of such suffering? Psalm 43 gives us a glimpse into that kind of soul—one that chooses to praise God not just in times of victory and celebration, but also in seasons of confusion, sorrow, and silence. Psalm 43 is often considered a continuation of Psalm 42, carrying the same refrain and tone of longing. It begins with a desperate cry: “Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!” This is no casual request. The psalmist feels attacked, oppressed, and abandoned. He pleads for God to intervene, to make things right. But then comes a haunting question—one that many believers have whispered in dark nights of the soul: “For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?” It’s a deep paradox. The psalmist knows God as his refuge, his only hope and protector. And yet, in the current moment, it feels as if God has turned His face away. His enemies seem to be winning. His prayers echo back in silence. His soul is cast down, in turmoil. But even in this emotional pit, the psalmist doesn't walk away. He doesn’t shut down or give up. Instead, he cries out: “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” In times of darkness, what does he ask for? Light. Truth. He knows that only God's Word can illuminate the path ahead. He doesn’t demand a full explanation, but enough light

478_More than conquerors Psalm 44:1-8 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: 2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; 3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. 4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! 5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. 6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. 7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. 8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. 20-26 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. 22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! 24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground. 26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! A few years ago, a young missionary couple moved to a remote village in Southeast Asia. They had left behind comfort, career, and family, believing with all their hearts that God had called them to bring the gospel to an unreached tribe. They worked tirelessly—learning the language, caring for the sick, teaching the children, and sharing the good news. But after five years, the fruit they had hoped for never came. The few converts they had were threatened or driven away, their presence was mocked by villagers, and eventually, they were asked to leave. As they boarded the boat in silence, hearts heavy with defeat, the wife turned to her husband and whispered, “Did we fail?” That question echoes the same bewilderment and pain found in Psalm 44. This is not a psalm of personal complaint or individual struggle. It’s the voice of a people—a community of God’s own, grappling with a painful and public defeat. The nation of Israel had known what it was like to be chosen, loved, and delivered by the Lord. Their history was filled with divine intervention and supernatural victories. They remembered how the Promised Land had been given to them, not by the strength of their armies, but by the power of God who fought on their behalf. The psalmist begins with a remembrance of this rich heritage, “It was not by their sword that they won the land,

479_The King and His bride Psalm 45 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! 4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you. 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him. 12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people. 13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. 14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her. 15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king. 16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. 17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever. A few years ago, a man in jeans and a T-shirt walked onto a subway platform in Washington, D.C., carrying his violin. He opened his case and let the music soar for forty-five minutes. Over a thousand people passed by. Most hurried along. A few paused for a moment. A handful dropped in some change. What the passersby didn’t realize was that the man playing was Joshua Bell, one of the world’s most celebrated violinists, performing some of the most intricate pieces ever written—on a violin worth over three million dollars. Just days earlier, he had sold out a concert hall where tickets averaged over $100 each. The problem wasn’t with the music. Rather, the people didn’t recognize the glory standing in front of them. Psalm 45 is like a heavenly concert that demands our attention. It’s a royal wedding song that opens our eyes to the splendor of the King who is greater than any earthly ruler—Jesus Christ. Many walk past Him, failing to recognize Him. But for those who stop, listen, and look, His glory leaves them in awe. Psalm 45 is a royal wedding psalm, a song unlike

480_Be still and know that He is God Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah In 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti. Over 200,000 people were killed, and millions were left homeless. In the midst of this devastation, one story stood out. At a collapsed school building in Port-au-Prince, rescuers heard a faint sound—a voice singing. After nearly four days beneath the rubble, they discovered a young girl, no older than seven, trapped but alive. She was singing a simple Christian song she had learned in Sunday school: “God is so good, He’s so good to me.” Over and over she sang those words in the dark, buried under broken concrete and twisted steel. When they finally pulled her out, weak and bruised but alive, one of the rescuers said, “We found her by following the voice of hope.” How powerful was hope for that child, buried under the wreckage of disaster, but still singing because she believed in the goodness of God. That’s the heart of Psalm 46. It’s not a promise that disasters won’t come. It’s not a denial of pain or fear. It’s a bold declaration in the midst of it: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This psalm strengthens people who are buried in grief and uncertainty, by life’s sudden catastrophes. It speaks to all who feel the ground beneath them shift. It is not a call to bravery, but a call to trust: God is our refuge. He is not distant. He is not an idea. He is a present help—right here, right now, in the mess. He is a refuge and help present amidst the most uncontrollable forces we know—natural disasters. “Though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.” Earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis—amidst the events that make us feel utterly powerless, we can declare, “We will not fear.” Not because we are strong, or above suffering. But

481_God reigns over all the nations Psalm 47 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah 5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! It was a warm afternoon in 1945 when the Japanese Emperor Hirohito did something that shocked the world—he surrendered. For years, Japan had wrought war and devastation. Yet now his voice trembled as he delivered the “Jewel Voice Broadcast,” announcing Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces. For the first time, the people of Japan heard their emperor’s voice. For the first time, he admitted that he was not divine. His so-called godhood collapsed before the true sovereignty of a higher power. History is full of rulers who claimed to be supreme—pharaohs, emperors, kings, presidents. But time and truth have proven again and again that no human authority lasts. Kingdoms rise and fall. Empires grow and crumble. How different the throne of God - the only one that has never been shaken, the one King whose dominion never ends. Psalm 47 calls all the earth to see and rejoice before that throne: “God reigns over all the nations.” Psalm 47 begins: “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy!” The exuberant joy comes from the fact that this is not just Israel’s God. He is the Most High, the great King over all the earth. He is not bound by borders or limited by languages. He reigns over all the nations, every tribe and tongue, every palace and parliament. This truth is at the heart of God’s covenant with Abraham. God promised Abraham that his descendants would bless all the families of the earth. Only a sovereign God—one who holds all the nations in His hands—could declare such universal influence. Babylon was one of the greatest of the ancient superpowers. It's mighty king, Nebuchadnezzar, was regarded as “king of the earth” because his rule was vast and virtually unchallenged. Yet in Daniel chapter 4, God warned him of impending judgment through a vision. Daniel pleaded with him to heed the warning and humble himself by repentance, righteousness, and mercy. But the king continued in his pride. One day, he gloated over his marvelous city, boasting, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built by my mighty power for the glory of my majesty?” That was the tipping point. Immediately, God’s judgment fell. The once-proud

482_The city of the great King Psalm 48 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. 4 For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. 5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. 6 Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. 7 By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah 9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! 12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever. In 1952, the British explorer and mountaineer Eric Shipton led an expedition through the remote mountain ranges of the Himalayas. During this journey, he stumbled upon a breathtaking valley that few eyes had ever seen. Towering peaks encircled the land like guardians of a hidden treasure. The sunlight poured over the snowy summits, and a river meandered gently through the center of the valley, sparkling like liquid silver. As he stood there, Shipton reportedly murmured to himself, “This feels like a place fit for a king.” Throughout history, humanity has longed for a perfect city—a place of peace, majesty, and permanence, where justice reigns and beauty abounds. Great empires have risen and fallen, magnificent cities have been built and destroyed, and yet the yearning continues. We feel there must be something more than this broken, fleeting world. And Scripture agrees. Psalm 48, often referred to as a prophetic psalm, lifts our eyes beyond the ruins and decay of this earth to show us something lasting—the city of the great King. The psalmist begins with an outburst of praise: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, his holy mountain.” (Psalm 48:1). This city is no ordinary city—it is Zion, the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The earthly Jerusalem was chosen by God to be the home of his temple. In it was the ark, the ark of the covenant of the God of the whole earth. It foreshadowed something greater: the eternal dwelling place of God Himself, the joy of all people. Psalm 87 echoes this reality when it declares: “On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the

483_Living in the light of eternity Psalm 49:1-13 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor together! 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit. 10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. 12 Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah The year was 1923. A group of the world’s most powerful and successful men gathered at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. It included the president of America’s largest steel company, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, a member of the president’s cabinet, and the heads of the biggest oil and utility companies of the time. Collectively, they controlled more wealth than perhaps any other group on the planet. Newspapers hailed them as men who had it made—masters of industry, success, and wealth. Fast forward a few decades: one died bankrupt, another died in prison, one went insane, and the rest died lonely and broken. These men had built empires but had failed to prepare for the one thing that levels all people—death. They lived for the now, with little thought for eternity. Psalm 49 is a solemn and timeless call to everyone—rich and poor, powerful and powerless—to live with the end in view. It’s a wisdom psalm that doesn’t simply call us to morality, but to clarity. It is a piercing reminder that life is brief, death is certain, and eternity is forever. The psalmist says, “Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together!” (vv.1–2). The desire to pursue wealth, fame, or comfort at the cost of eternal values is not just a rich man’s disease. A poor man can be just as materialistic and greedy as the wealthy. Because materialism isn’t about how much we have—it’s about what our hearts long for. In this wise psalm, the first bit of wisdom is this: Don’t be envious of the rich and powerful. Especially those who trust in their wealth and boast about their great possessions. It’s one thing to be rich—it’s another to find your identity, worth, and security in

484_Thanksgiving as a sacrifice Psalm 50:1-6 The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah 14-15 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” 23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” In a room filled with emotion, a woman named Mary Johnson sat across from the man who had murdered her only son. It had been years since the tragedy—years filled with grief, anger, and emptiness. The man, named O’Shea Israel, had been a teenager when he pulled the trigger in a gang-related incident. Mary, though a committed Christian, wrestled with bitterness for years. Until one day she made a radical decision. She visited him in prison. At first, their meetings were cold and strained. But over time, something began to change. Mary started to see not just a killer, but a broken young man in need of grace. Eventually, she forgave him. Not only that, she welcomed him into her neighborhood when he was released and treated him like a son. When asked how she could do it, Mary said, “I chose to forgive because I realized I couldn’t worship God with bitterness in my heart. My healing came when I let go and gave thanks—not for what happened, but for what God was doing through it.” Psalm 50 celebrates a God who is not impressed with outward religion, but who commends a heart of trust and thanksgiving as that which glorifies him. Asaph, the psalmist, paints a majestic and terrifying courtroom scene. God, the righteous Judge, summons all people from east to west. He appears not in silence or gentleness, but with fire and tempest, radiating glory from Zion. The heavens are called to witness, not to the sin of the world, but to the judgment of His own people. In verse 5, God declares, “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” These were not outsiders or unbelievers. These were His covenant people, covenanted by sacrifice. The heavens declare God’s righteousness, Asaph says, for He is the true and perfect Judge. As Psalm 89:14 reminds us, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” This Judge is holy, just, and consistent. And now, He brings forth His complaint. In verses 7 to 15, God turns to His people and begins with startling words:

485_Justified freely by his grace Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. There’s an old story about how Michelangelo once found a massive piece of marble lying unused in a quarry. It was regarded as useless, because of a great crack in the midst. But Michelangelo, seeing it, reportedly said, “There is an angel trapped inside, and I must set him free.” From that flawed block of stone came the masterpiece we now know as David—a towering statue that captures strength, manliness, and grace in perfect form. Like that discarded marble, we carry within us deep flaws—sins we’ve hidden, ignored, or justified. Only if we allow the Master’s hands to shape us can he make, even from our brokenness, something beautiful. Psalm 51 is the cry of such a man. Crushed under the weight of his own sin, he flees for mercy to his God and Master to be forgiven and cleansed. The painful context of this psalm is revealed in its title: David’s repentance after the prophet Nathan confronted him over his sin with Bathsheba. David—Israel’s greatest king, the “man after God’s own heart”—fell head over heels into the depths of sin. He let his eyes go astray, coveted another man’s wife, committed

486_The destructive power of half-truths Psalm 52 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. 2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah 4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. 5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 7 “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Many years ago, during a tense court trial, a witness was called to the stand to testify in a high-profile case. The prosecutor asked a simple question: “Did you see the defendant at the scene?” The witness replied, “Yes, I did.” On the surface, it seemed like a solid, damning statement. But he omitted the most important thing—that the defendant had been at the scene hours before anything unlawful happened. Just a few omissions were enough to nearly ruin an innocent man. Eventually, the truth came out, but not before rumors spread and reputations were shattered. The witness didn’t tell a direct lie. He merely shaded the truth—what we often call a “half-truth.” But Scripture and life both emphasize that a half-truth can be just as destructive as a blatant lie when used in the service of deceit. Psalm 52 is David’s response to a moment in his life where a half-truth led to horrific consequences. The heading of this psalm provides the context, recorded in 1 Samuel 21 and 22: “When Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’” Doeg was an Edomite and the chief herdsman of King Saul. On one occasion, he was “detained before the Lord,” possibly as part of some punishment or cleansing ritual. During that time, he witnessed David’s hasty visit to the tabernacle. David on this occasion lied to the old priest Ahimelech, pretending to be on the king’s business. In his innocence, the priest supplied David with the old shewbread and with the sword of Goliath kept there. But David immediately realized Doeg was a great danger, and fled from Israel to Gath, knowing Doeg would inform Saul about his visit to Ahimelech. Sure enough, when Saul demanded of his servants why they were all conspiring against him instead of informing him where to find David, Doeg spoke up. Saul was already ranting that no one cared about him, that his own son Jonathan had made a secret pact with David, and

487_God is my helper Psalm 54 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. 2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah 4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. 5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them. 6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. 7 For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. In the spring of 1940, during World War II, Allied forces found themselves trapped at Dunkirk, surrounded by advancing German troops. Almost 400,000 soldiers faced annihilation on the beaches of France, and escape seemed impossible. In desperation, the British government called for a national day of prayer. Churches across the UK were filled with people crying out to God for deliverance. What followed became known as the “Miracle of Dunkirk.” A massive evacuation—codenamed Operation Dynamo—was launched. Civilian boats, fishing vessels, and naval ships crossed the English Channel under a cloak of unexpected fog and unusually calm waters. Over 338,000 soldiers were rescued against all odds. It was as if God Himself had intervened. Many later said it felt like the hand of heaven reached down to deliver them from the jaws of destruction. When we’re cornered, when all escape routes are blocked, and we feel overwhelmed by forces greater than us—where do we turn? This is the situation that gave rise to Psalm 54. Surrounded, betrayed, and pursued, David lifts his eyes—not to the hills, not to his weapons, not to his men, but to God—and declares, “God is my helper.” The setting of Psalm 54 takes us back to one of the darkest chapters in David’s life. The superscription tells us that this psalm was written when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?” Twice they betrayed David, first in 1 Samuel 23 and then again in 1 Samuel 26. Probably the psalm dates from the first event, where David was hiding in the wilderness of Ziph, fleeing from the jealous and vengeful King Saul. The Ziphites weren’t Philistines or foreign enemies. They were fellow Israelites, men from David’s own tribe of Judah. He had done them no wrong. And yet, without provocation, they went to Saul and offered to turn David over to him. Whether envy or fear, or ambition, their betrayal was a clear affront to God himself, who had set Saul aside and chosen David to be his king. Saul’s response is hypocritically religious. He who was seeking to kill God’s anointed says piously to the Ziphites: “May you be blessed by the Lord.” Saul’s religion had become an empty shell. Though he had long since stopped walking with God, he took his name in vain. True religion doesn’t seek the death of the

488_Cast your burden on the Lord Psalm 55:1-8 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” 16-23 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. 18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. 20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. A well-known pastor had mentored a young man in ministry for several years. He had poured his teaching and his thoughts on life into him, trusted him, opened up his heart and his home. They prayed together, served side by side, and talked about their dreams of what God might do through their lives. Then one day that young man left to begin his own church, pulling in several people whom his mentor was pastoring. It became obvious over the next few days that he had been busy sowing seeds of doubt, division, and mistrust. The betrayal was all the more painful because of the trust that it exploited. The wounds inflicted by betrayal aren’t superficial. They cut deeper than adverse circumstances could, biting into the very heart. David knew that pain too, and it is reflected in Psalm 55. This psalm arose from a time of intense turmoil in David’s life—probably Absalom’s rebellion. His own son had sown dissatisfaction and rebellion against him, finally proclaiming himself the king and pursuing his kingly father’s death. Just as hurtful was the fact that Ahithophel, one of his closest and most trusted counselors, joined the conspiracy. Scripture tells us he was Bathsheba’s grandfather, and the unresolved bitterness from David’s sin against

489_In God I trust, what can man do to me? Ps 56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. The night was tense and unnaturally quiet as the underground church gathered. In a country where Christianity was illegal, and gatherings could lead to arrest or worse, they still met. One young believer, no more than twenty, stood at the door as lookout. Just weeks earlier, two members of the same group had been arrested by the secret police and hadn’t been heard from since. When asked why he continued to risk his life, he simply said, “They can imprison my body, but they can’t touch my soul. I belong to God. My life is in His hands.” This man knew, not the absence of fear, but the courage born out of deep trust. Psalm 56 mirrors the same unshakable faith. This psalm was written by David “when the Philistines had seized him in Gath.” Surely this was among the most desperate moments of his life. Recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, this was when David, the slayer of the Philistine giant and constant enemy of the Philistines fled from his own king to take refuge in the land of his enemies, the Philistines. But it didn’t take long before he was recognized. The servants of King Achish remembered the songs sung by Israelite women: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” David was no ordinary refugee. He had been Saul’s champion against the Philistines, who constantly harried Israel. Caught and helpless, David resorted to strategy. Scratching doors, drooling on his beard, he pretended to be insane in order to save his life. And this humiliating plan worked. King Achish dismissed him as a madman, and David was chased out of the city - to freedom. Back in

490_God fulfills his purpose for those who trust in Him Psalm 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Years ago, a missionary named Alan Gardner set out to preach the gospel in one of the most remote and difficult parts of the world—the southern tip of South America. He and his team faced hunger, sickness, and harsh weather. Eventually, all of them laid down their lives on that desolate shore. When Gardner’s body was finally found, the explorers found his journal nearby. Scribbled with fingers trembling with weakness were his last words: "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God." Words like this, written with death so near, point to a deep understanding that nothing can ever separate us from the goodness of God. It comes from the unshakable faith that God’s purpose is never frustrated, even in suffering. This sense comes from the knowledge that the storms of life are not meaningless. This is the same faith and courage that David records, in Psalm 57. Hiding from King Saul, probably in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22), David is surrounded by darkness and danger. And his response? A flood of prayer, interspersed with triumphant and trustful song. The opening words are: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” (Psalm 57:1) The long experience David knew, from the long experience of faith, how to transmute desperation to trust. He did not ask that the storm be stilled. He simply lifts his voice to God, calling for mercy. At the same time, with humble boldness, he shelters under the

491_Surely there is a reward for the righteous Psalm 58 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly? 2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. 4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. 6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! 7 Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. 8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. 9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away! 10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.” A missionary in Africa was persistently opposed by a tribal chief who was deeply involved in traditional occult practices. As the missionary continued to preach the gospel of Christ and sought to do good to the people, he was constantly slandered, threatened, and attacked. Often the attacks came from the tribal council that was supposed to administer justice. At one point, this council was swayed by the chief to falsely accuse the missionary of several crimes. He was publicly humiliated and his work nearly came to a halt. But he refused to give up. He humbly persisted in prayer, entrusting himself to the One who judges justly. Within a few years, the chief fell into disgrace, his rule undone by corruption. Many in the village turned to Christ, including some of those who had once spoken lies against the missionary. One of them, in tears, confessed: “We now know you were speaking the truth all along. Your patience and your faith in God’s justice were your greatest sermon.” Psalm 58 echoes this message. It is the outraged cry of a righteous man against injustice and violence. It is the faith-filled plea of someone who believes, against all appearances, that surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth. The psalm begins with a direct challenge to the wicked authorities of that day. They wielded authority, not to uphold justice, but to perpetuate injustice. “Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?” he asks. “Do you judge the children of man uprightly?” The answer is obvious, as verse 2 says: “No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.” These "gods" are the powerful rulers and judges of his time. They were meant to be stewards of justice under God's authority. However, they had become gods unto

492_Living in the midst of constant danger Psalm 59 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! 5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah 6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 8 But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. 9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. In 2018, a Thai soccer team of twelve boys and their coach found themselves trapped in a flooded cave system for over two weeks. With rising waters, pitch darkness, dwindling oxygen, and the ever-present risk of drowning, the world watched breathlessly as expert divers navigated treacherous tunnels to bring them out one by one. For days, the boys sat in a small chamber, not knowing if help would come, uncertain whether they would live or die. They had to remain calm, conserving energy and hope, even when everything around them screamed fear. One of the rescuers later said, “The most important thing we told them was: Don’t panic. Stay still. Help is on the way.” This real-life story mirrors the tension of Psalm 59. David, like those boys in the cave, was trapped, with death pressing in. His enemies were not floodwaters or dark tunnels, but men with weapons and a king's command to kill. The backdrop is found in 1 Samuel 19. David had already proven himself as a brave warrior and loyal servant to King Saul. He had killed Goliath, soothed Saul with music, and fought valiantly for Israel. But Saul, jealous and paranoid, became obsessed with eliminating David. Though he once swore to his son Jonathan that he would not harm David, that promise broke under the weight of his envy and insecurity. While David was playing the lyre to comfort him, Saul picked up a spear and tried to pin him to the wall. David narrowly escaped with his life. That night, Saul sent men to watch David’s house and murder him in the morning. His wife, Michal—Saul’s daughter—discovered the plot and helped David escape through a window. Alone and on the run, David wrote this psalm—a cry for help, and a declaration of trust in the face of mortal danger. “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God,” he pleads. “Protect me from those who rise up against me.” “Deliver

493_Oh, restore us again! Psalm 60 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. In 1981, the nation of Israel launched one of the most daring rescue operations in history—Operation Entebbe. A group of Israeli hostages had been hijacked and taken to Uganda. The terrorists demanded ransom, threatening to kill the hostages otherwise. The situation looked hopeless. Yet, despite the odds, the Israeli Defense Forces planned a nighttime raid, rescuing and flying out 102 hostages in under 90 minutes. What stood out about this mission wasn’t just the tactical precision, but the confidence the Israeli soldiers had in their identity, their mission, and their leadership. They knew whom they were fighting for, and why. If, instead, they had been confused, uncertain, divided, or estranged from their commanding officer, the outcome would have been an unthinkable tragedy. Sometimes we are ambushed by unexpected attacks on our faith, on the sovereignty and goodness of God, on seeming setbacks to our spiritual goals. We begin to question our strength, our strategy, and even God’s presence. But sometimes the problem isn’t the enemy, or our tactics. It’s the fact that somewhere along the way, we’ve lost our connection with the Lord of heaven’s armies. That’s where David found himself when he penned Psalm 60. Its title marks it as recording David’s victories over the nations surrounding Israel - Philistia, Moab, and Syria, as we read in 2 Samuel 8 and 10. Yet its opening words speak of bitter defeat rather than celebrating triumph. His opening lament is: “O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.” Something had gone terribly wrong. Instead of blaming his military leaders or the strength of the Edomite army, David looks upwards and inwards. This is a moment of clarity. David clearly sees, once again, how solid is the foundation of those who trust in God - and how

494_Lead me to the rock that is higher than I Psalm 61 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! 8 So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day. Years ago, a seasoned mountaineer shared a very touching story. He had been climbing a difficult peak in the Himalayas with a small group of fellow climbers. Halfway through the ascent, an unexpected storm rolled in. The icy wind howled, visibility dropped to near zero, and the once-firm snow beneath their feet became soft and treacherous. At one point, the climber realized he was on unstable ground, just steps away from a hidden crevasse. Panic set in as he tried to gauge his next move. Then, out of the fog, came the voice of his guide: “Climb up here! I’ve found solid rock!” He followed the voice blindly, scrambling upward toward a surface he couldn’t yet see. But when he reached it, he knew he was safe. That rock, higher than his position, saved his life. That image resonates deeply with the cry of David in Psalm 61. The psalm opens with a voice of desperation, but ends with the language of praise. It’s a journey, not just through David’s circumstances, but through his heart. David recognizes his own limitations and turns to the only One who can provide true safety, direction, and eternal hope. The earnest plea that begins it is: “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.” We don’t know the exact situation in which David penned these words. It could have been during his flight from Saul, or when his own son Absalom later rebelled against him. What we do know is that he was in a place of emotional, spiritual, and perhaps even physical exhaustion. His heart was faint—drained of strength, perhaps overwhelmed by sorrow or fear. And in that moment, he doesn’t pretend to be strong. He doesn’t rely on his own strategies, armies, or reputation. He does what we’re often too proud or distracted to do: he prays honestly and simply. His request is profound: “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” David feels like he’s in a low place, a pit he can’t climb out of on his own. The rock he speaks of isn’t just a better position or a higher vantage point—it’s

495_Silently waiting for God alone Psalm 62 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah 5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah 9 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. 11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work. Years ago, a young missionary found himself falsely accused of misconduct in a foreign land. The accusations spread rapidly, and his reputation was all but destroyed. Friends advised him to defend himself publicly and clear his name. But after much prayer, he chose to let God speak for him. Eventually, the truth emerged—entirely apart from the missionary’s efforts—and his integrity was restored. When asked why he hadn’t defended himself, he replied, “If I had spoken, they would have only heard my voice. But by staying silent, they heard God’s.” Psalm 62 reflects that attitude of quiet trusting surrender to God’s authority. For once, David is neither pleading nor demanding. For this unique psalm neither contains prayer nor supplication. It is simply a reflection of the unshaken confidence of the one who knows that God is his helper. David’s world was not calm. He was surrounded by enemies, people who schemed with flattering words to bring him down. He was regarded as a weakling ready to fall at any moment, like a tottering fence. They thought that one push would destroy him. He saw through their hypocrisy and malice. Yet, amidst this time of real danger and deep betrayal, David says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence... He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” This is not passivity nor fatalism. It is the word of faith, which refrains from reacting or fixing or explaining our own stance. David is not scrambling to defend himself, or to gather his own strength and call in reinforcements. This is mere foolishness in the eyes of the world. But to wait on God is

496_Satisfied fully in God Psalm 63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. There’s a story about a man named Nicholas Herman, a 17th-century French soldier who later became a Carmelite monastery worker. We know him today as Brother Lawrence. He was assigned to the kitchen, often doing mundane tasks like peeling potatoes and scrubbing pots. Yet in those very moments of ordinary drudgery, he discovered that he experienced the presence of God not only in church or in moments of ecstasy but in every hour, in every breath, in every dish washed. He wrote, “We should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s presence, by continually conversing with Him.” For Brother Lawrence, God was not another of life’s compartments, but its very center. In Him, he was fully satisfied. Psalm 63 echoes this deep contentment. It is not the psalm of a man ruling in a palace or reclining in luxury. It comes from the desolate wilderness of Judah. David was in one of his periods of exile—either during Saul’s reign, or perhaps during Absalom’s rebellion. Stripped of comfort, security, and companionship, his soul still sings with joy as he remembers God, his power, and love. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Thirst is a terrible thing in a land without water. This is how David felt when surrounded by wickedness and unfaithfulness. In response, his mind and heart leapt to the God he had seen in the sanctuary - the God of power and glory, the God of steadfast love. He knew that this thirst could be satisfied only with the presence and the salvation of God. Truly, nothing in the world can satisfy the deepest hunger of the soul. The desire for meaning and significance cannot be filled

497_The unshakable joy of the righteous Psalm 64 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. 7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. 10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! A young missionary named John was stationed in a hostile region, encountering its deep-seated opposition to Christianity. One night, a group of armed men broke into his home. With only a Bible in his hand, he knelt in prayer, his heart crying out to God. The intruders stood confused. One raised his weapon but stopped midway, staring. Then, without explanation, they all abruptly turned and left. The next day, John discovered that many in the village had been watching through windows. They reported seeing a circle of brilliant light surrounding him, and what looked like men in white standing beside him. John had no idea what they saw, but one thing was certain: God had heard his cry and preserved his life. Psalm 64 depicts David in a similar moment of peril, crying out to God from the middle of a ring of men who threatened his life with their threats or slander. Though we don’t know the exact historical context of this psalm, it is clear that David was in mortal danger and was aware of cunning adversaries setting traps against his life. His thoughts uttered themselves in secret yet audible prayer. The psalm unfolds in two parts: first, a desperate plea for help (verses 1–6), and then, a confident proclamation of God’s justice and deliverance (verses 7–10). The striking contrast between fear and joy, danger and deliverance, emphasize yet again that the righteous can have unshakable joy and courage even in the midst of life’s most terrifying storms - because God is just and powerful for the right. David opens with three urgent requests: “Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers.” These are the prayers of a man who feels the breath of death on his neck. David knew the terror that the enemy spread before him, and feared its paralysis. Therefore he pleaded, both for protection and for deliverance from the fear associated with

498_A prayer answering God Psalm 65 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. 2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. 3 When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. 4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! 5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; 6 the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; 7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, 8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. 9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. Some years ago, a missionary in Africa shared the story of a small rural village struck by drought. The crops were dying, the wells were dry, and hope was slipping through the cracked earth. The villagers tried everything—ancient rituals, appeals to government aid, even sacrificing livestock in desperation. Nothing changed. Then one elderly Christian woman quietly gathered a few others and knelt in the dust beneath a withered tree. She didn’t shout. She didn’t offer long speeches. She simply prayed, “Lord, You are the God who hears. Hear us now.” That night, the rain came. Not a drizzle, but a steady, soaking rain that turned dry soil into mud and despair into dancing. When someone later asked why she thought God answered her prayer when so many others had failed, she replied, “Because I wasn’t praying to the sky. I was praying to my Father.” Psalm 65 is a song for every heart that believes in prayer, as contact with the living and loving God who hears, who cares, and who answers. From beginning to end, this psalm overflows with praise, thanksgiving, and awe. Importantly, this did not arise from David’s perfect life, but from his knowledge of a mighty and perfect God. The psalm opens: “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.” What sets the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob apart is that He hears prayer, and is therefore worthy of praise and thanksgiving offerings. On

499_I will bless the Lord at all times Psalm 66 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah 5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. A missionary was imprisoned for his faith in a foreign land. Every morning, despite the cold cell, the thin gruel, and the loneliness, he worshipped God in songs of praise. Baffled, one of the guards asked him, “Why are you singing? You’re in prison. You’re alone. No one hears you.” The missionary simply replied, “God hears. As long as I have breath, I will praise Him.” That kind of praise is not based on feelings or circumstances. It’s a way of life. Psalm 66 reflects this praise. It’s not the kind that comes and goes depending on whether we’re having a good day, but that wells up from a heart secure in the knowledge of God’s greatness, which is the theme of this song. His greatness consists of his righteousness, justice, and kindness - the things in which he delights. Psalm 66 is a magnificent psalm that calls all the earth to praise God. The psalmist knows that God is much greater than a merely tribal or regional deity. He is the Lord of all creation, the sovereign over every being and every element in nature. No resistance is possible, none is justified. He invites everyone—everything—to make a joyful noise to God. God is not just the God of humans but the God of all creation. The universe itself praises Him—not only in words, but through obedience. The sun rises each day without fail, the moon waxes and wanes in perfect rhythm, the stars take their place in the night sky. The sea obeys His voice. The wind stills when He commands it. In the pages of Scripture, we see fish that listen to His instruction, plants that grow or wither at His word, and even worms that fulfill His purpose. All of creation, without hesitation or complaint, yields to the will of

500_The blessing of God? Psalm 67 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! Henrietta Mears was a follower of Jesus who lived in the early 20th century. Through her work in developing and teaching adult Sunday School year after year, hundreds of young men and women came to know Christ personally. Some of them went on to become Christian leaders, like Billy Graham, Young Life founder Jim Rayburn, and Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright. Nearly 400 others went into full-time ministry after attending her Sunday school class. When asked the secret of her fruitfulness, she said, “I only ever asked God to bless me so that others would be blessed through me.” Her life was like a channel, not a container. She desired only that the knowledge of God would spread through her life like a river that waters everything in its path. This is what Psalm 67 reminds us of. Many of us approach the idea of God's blessing in very personal terms. We think of blessings as a better job, a safe home, a healthy body, or a thriving family. But this psalm reminds us that the reason we should seek God’s blessing goes far deeper—and reaches much wider—than just our individual lives. The psalm begins with a familiar prayer: “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us.” This echoes the priestly blessing of Numbers 6, where Moses instructed Aaron to bless Israel with those words. It’s a beautiful picture of God's favor, His protection, and His pleasure—resting on His people. And then the psalmist tells God why he desires the blessing: “So that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” In other words, God’s blessing on His people would tell the world about God and show them that He was a Savior. This is a radical shift in perspective. The psalmist isn’t asking for blessing just to live out his life on earth in comfort. He longed for all people across the earth to know the glory of God. Israel wasn’t chosen to be a cul-de-sac of God’s blessing, but a highway. God had made them His own, not to isolate them from the world, but to reveal Himself through them to the world. Psalm 33:12 declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Their blessing had a purpose—to be a light to the nations, a testimony to

501_The lasting victory of God Psalm 68 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. In 1945, World War II officially ended, but for a Japanese soldier named Hiroo Onoda, the news never sank in. Stationed on a remote Philippine island, he continued fighting for 29 more years, hiding in the jungle and carrying out guerrilla missions. Leaflets were dropped, announcements were made, and even his own family tried to reach him—but he dismissed it all as enemy propaganda. When he was finally persuaded to surrender in 1974, he discovered that the war had been over for decades. Yet he had lived as if the battle was still raging. How foolish and yet how tragic his story is. This is what Psalm 68 tells us - that victory belongs to our God. God’s victory over evil is not tentative, not temporary, and certainly not pending—it is complete, decisive, and everlasting. Our calling is to live as people who know and believe that the war is already won. Psalm 68 is a majestic song of triumph, likely composed to celebrate the moment the ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem in David’s day (2 Samuel 6). But its reach is far greater than a single historical event. It recalls God’s victories from Israel’s wilderness journey, celebrates His faithfulness in the present, and prophetically points toward Christ’s resurrection and ascension. It is a psalm that opens with the certainty of God’s triumph and closes with the global call to worship Him for it. It starts: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered.” David is quoting Moses’ words from Numbers 10:35, spoken when the ark set out from Mount Sinai. It’s the battle cry of a people who know that their God does not merely participate in the fight—He determines the outcome. His enemies don’t slowly retreat in exhaustion; they vanish like smoke in the wind, like wax melting before fire. The psalm gives us the image of a victory so overwhelming that resistance simply dissolves. Early in the morning of the day when Jesus Christ rose again, the enemies of God thought they had prevailed. The Son of God lay dead, the tomb was sealed, and soldiers stood guard. But when He rose, death itself—the enemy that holds sway over every human life—was undone. In Paul’s words: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Beyond the fall of