As David concludes his song about the grinding pain of unjust treatment and his chosen responses, he then commits to patience. Resolved: I will patiently stand and wait for relief. Do not take my soul away along with sinners, Nor my life with men of bloodshed, In whose hands is a wicked scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Read MoreTag Archives: Psalms
Staying Faithful Together
David’s prayer for protection while enduring mistreatment didn’t merely ask God for help; the king’s song included a commitment on his part. Resolved: I will be faithful in public worship. O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. (26:8)
Read MoreAn Attitude of Gratitude
King David knew the sting of unjust treatment as keenly as anyone in history. To keep mistreatment from undermining his relationship with God, he put some resolutions into a song. Having committed to remaining open before the Lord and to remembering His love, David committed to letting God be the judge of others’ sin. Resolved: I will refuse the temptation to get even.
Read MoreOpen 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).
Read MoreMistreated, 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.
Read MoreListening 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.
Read MoreGod’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.
Read MoreGod 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.
Read MoreGod Speaks through His Creation
David has packed a lot of great theology into a short space in Psalm 19. Unfortunately, we can hit only the highlights of these fourteen verses because neither time nor space permits us to dig into the depths of each one. However, I urge you to take the outline and use it as a guide in your own, personal study of this magnificent composition. It is a veritable treasure house of truth.
Read MoreA Deafening Silence
Ever felt completely removed from God’s awareness? It’s almost like you’re standing at the bottom of a long stairway looking up, isn’t it? The light is off, and even though you knock or call out for a response, nothing happens. No answer is heard. Not even a stir. You’re not alone. Many a soul struggles at this very moment with divine silence. And to make matters worse, it can grind on for days, weeks, even months.
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