Open before the Lord

As David endured unfair treatment despite his doing what was right, He cried out to God in the verses of Psalm 26. As we read his anguished lyrics, we will uncover some resolutions David made which kept him (and will keep us) from slipping into bitterness and resentment during times of mistreatment. Resolved: I will be open before the Lord (26:2).

Mistreated, Misjudged, and Maligned

If I were asked to give a popular title to Psalm 26, it would be: “How to Do Right When You’ve Been Done Wrong.” We have all been “done wrong,” haven’t we? Maybe that describes your circumstance right now: an intolerable working situation; a husband, wife, parent, or child who takes unfair advantage of you even when you have treated him or her kindly; a friend who has turned against you due to a misunderstanding of something you did with only the purest of motives. Such feelings grind away at our peace so severely we wonder if we can continue.

The Shepherd Secures the Future

As David brings his song of the sheep to a close, having reflected on the Lord’s faithful care throughout his life, he then considers his future. Verse 6 – In his book The Shepherd Psalm, F. B. Meyer refers to “goodness and lovingkindness” as our “celestial escort.”1 Another commentator suggests that these are “God’s sheepdogs,” ever near His flock, ever nipping at our heels, always available.

The Shepherd Provides Abundantly

As David’s song of the sheep concludes, he suddenly drops the analogy to consider his own experience of God, both as a simple man in need of a Savior and as a king in need of divine guidance. Verse 5 No sheep ever ate at a literal “table” prepared for it. Abruptly, we are transported from the green pastures, the valley, and the rugged mountainside to “a table” in the enemy’s presence.

The Shepherd Restores

As a former shepherd keeping watch over flocks in the wilderness, the composer of Psalm 23 understood the nature of sheep, including their bad habit of wandering. When one is attracted to a clump of grass away from the flock, off it goes, and sometimes it’s followed by several other woolly wanderers. Soon, night falls. Lurking in the darkness are hungry wolves, four-legged savages, looking for a supper of mutton!

In the Shepherd’s Care

Like many of the songs found in the Bible, Psalm 23 states its case in the first verse and simply verifies it in the remainder of the song. The key thought is this: Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing! No uncertainty should frighten me. Here is the way the theme of Psalm 23 is played out in the balance of David’s famous song:

The Woeful Song of Frightened Sheep

I have observed that few inner battles are more fierce than the daily grind of uncertainty. No doubt you, too, have encountered one or more of its many faces as you have struggled with a career choice, new direction in life, purpose in pain, job security, financial pressures, physical handicaps, relational snags, and a dozen other confusing puzzles not quickly or easily solved.

Listening with Retuned Ears

David sums up his feelings in Psalm 19 with a brief prayer. In fact, these three lines are some of the most familiar in the entire book of Psalms. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (19:14) While God may seem silent at times, the problem is not that He isn’t communicating; it’s that we aren’t hearing Him.

God’s Incomparable Word

As David considers the impact of God’s written communication in the second section of Psalm 19, he’s prompted to appraise the value of Scripture. He uses two illustrations for the purpose of comparison: 1. Gold . . . fine gold (19:10). As the king of Israel, David knew the value of gold. He had plenty of it! And, like today, it was considered among the most precious of possessions.

God Is Not Silent

The heavens may declare God’s power and glory, but they do not declare His will or His plan and promise of salvation. God has communicated those marvelous truths only in His Word—the living Scriptures, the Bible. In a sudden shift in perspective, David turns from the general evidence of God’s creative power to the specific evidence of God’s desire for a relationship with people.

Tag Archives: Psalms