August 17, 2017
David cried out to the Lord to be both his advocate and avenger. He prayed that the Lord would “plead” his case as a defense attorney would one falsely accused, and “fight” for him as a warrior defending his own.
Yet, what David brought before the Lord as a prayer, those in Christ can depend on as a promise. The Lord Jesus is our Advocate. As the apostle John wrote, “… if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). And the Lord Jesus is our Avenger. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
David’s prayer has become our promise. Jesus is our Advocate and Avenger.
August 14, 2017
The psalmist asks the Lord to be merciful towards His people according to the proportion of their hope in Him. This is not a request for God’s mercy according to their works, not according to righteousness, nor lack thereof, but according to the measure of the hope they have placed in God. The psalmist’s scale is for the Lord to give them mercy in proportion to their hope. Yet, I would ask for more. I would ask that the Lord show mercy even when (and especially when) my hope is weak. And I ask that His mercy would “be upon us” for others when their hope needs encouragement too.
July 28, 2017
David’s psalm concludes with a beautiful chorus, urging the Lord to exercise His own strength, to put it on display, so that all can see Him lifted up to the highest place. David commits his fellow worshipers to always sing and give verbal praise to God’s omnipotence and demonstrated power.
July 26, 2017
Is anyone in trouble? Call on the Lord. But by what name should one call? Call out to Jesus. “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Act 4:12). For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).
July 21, 2017
David’s psalm anticipated the reality of going to sleep in this world and awaking to the righteous face of the Lord in the next. The Spirit inspired him with expectation of a day when he would be fully “satisfied” to be found in the Lord’s “likeness,” made righteous and fit for living in His presence.
This “face” and this “likeness” belongs to none other than the Lord Jesus. For as the apostle Paul wrote, “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). And as the apostle John revealed, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
Can you join with David in saying, “As for me…”?
July 18, 2017
The Lord looks. The Lord sees. The psalmist uses anthropomorphic language to describe the Lord’s intense interest in humanity. Some men may doubt God’s existence, but the Lord knows all things about man. He looks at the heart. He searches for those that search for Him.
As God has said, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).
July 9, 2017
David wrote this psalm while hiding from Saul’s pursuit. During this time he was being falsely accused by a certain man from Saul’s tribe named, Cush, whom David feared would “tear him like a lion.” In this psalm, David invited the Lord to be both his judge and deliverer. He called on the Lord to defend him. David’s dire condition caused him to pray not only for his situation, but that all wickedness in the world would come to an end.
Have you ever looked around at the world we live in, and prayed that the Lord would bring the “wickedness of the wicked” to an end? Have you ever prayed that the Lord would “establish the just?” Of course, we tend to put others in the first category and ourselves in the “just” one. That’s why God is the only one capable of such a judgment, for He alone can “test the hearts and minds.”
One day, David’s prayer will be answered. The wicked will be judged and their time brought to an end. And the Lord Jesus Christ will establish the just, those who have been made so by believing in His Name. Until then, we can pray as David did, depending on the Lord to be our Savior and Defender.
July 8, 2017
David wrote of a time when he was so distressed in his soul that his nights were filled with groaning and his bed drenched with tears. Whether the occasion was because of his enemies without or of his own sense of guilt within, he described the torment he felt as he cried out for the Lord’s help, yet for a time, heard no response.
Some have described such a time as the “dark night of the soul.” Anyone who has been a believer for any length of time has probably experienced such a “night.” Which is really an indefinite period that can last for days or weeks, or longer, as one’s soul cries out for the Lord’s response. Such a state is intensified, in that night, which was meant for rest, has instead become a time of weariness and groaning. And the bed, which is meant for comfort and relaxation, becomes a place of torture and tears.
David experienced such a time. And certainly, so did Christ, as He cried out to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane. Yet, the Father is not far away. He never leaves, nor forsakes us. David’s sixth psalm closes with confidence that the Lord has heard him in his distress. And we too, can have that confidence. For ultimately, the dark night ends, and a new day dawns, and the Lord answers us in our distress.
June 15, 2017
Not uniformity, as some would see it, but unity. The first demands outward conformity, but the second is oneness of heart that allows for diversity. For “there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:4). This “good and pleasant” unity cannot be accomplished by human means, but is the work of the Holy Spirit. As the apostle Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). This unity comes from having a new spiritual identity in Christ.
June 11, 2017
Repeated twice for affect, the psalmist called those ascending the Temple Mount to reflect on the many times that Israel was “afflicted” from the time of its “youth,” even to their present day. Yet, Israel still stood. The Egyptians, the wilderness, the Amorites and Philistines –– none had “prevailed” against them.
Christ took up that word, “prevailed,” in His response to Peter’s confession, saying, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not ‘prevail’ against it” (Matt. 16:18). Certainly, through the centuries many have thought to prevail against the Church, and even in that time, they thought to prevail against Christ, yet He arose, and the Church has not only survived, it continues to thrive.
All who would follow Christ will know affliction. From the time of their new birth until the time of being called home to heaven, there will be trouble. But the promise of Jesus sustains us, for He has said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).