Burunche’s Blog

The Glory of the Lord in Creation

To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.

“O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength (perfect praise), because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit[care for] him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”

Psalm 8 is one of the best praise choruses ever written. It’s short, memorable, and gives complete glory to God. Psalm 8 gives us a framework for our own prayers of praise and thanksgiving.

“O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!” God’s name is of utmost importance. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe deserves all the respect and honor we can give. God’s glory extends throughout the entire universe, millions of light years beyond our comprehension.

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength (perfect praise), because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” Adults complain and find fault while children simply believe. Praise is one of the best weapons against the dark and evil. When we praise, we must focus on God and not on our fears.

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit[care for] him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.” The more we look at the heavens, the smaller we appear in our own eyes. And yet, God has created us and loves us because of His nature, not because we are so loveable.

“You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.” God has allowed humans to have dominion over nature. Do we deserve it? No! Are we good stewards? Much of the time, no! But God continues to allow us to handle or mishandle creation because God is bigger than our mistakes.

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”  There’s nothing left to say; God is magnificent and worthy of all our praise.

APPLICATION: This psalm is a favorite-short, memorable, and perfectly balanced. One advantage of this psalm is that David has already done all the work for us. We don’t have to fumble for words of praise; we can repeat Psalm 8 until the words sink into our consciousness. Why is such a practice important?

There are many times when we face unpleasant situations over which we have no control and from which there is no escape. Years ago, I was in a very demanding training program. I found myself as the only fellow because the trainee who should have preceded me had dropped out of the program the previous year after only a few months. The junior partner in the practice seemed intent on building himself up by tearing me down. I was working insane hours, and I survived by persistently praising God as I walked the hospital hallways. This psalm helped keep me focused on God instead of my problems.

Perhaps today you find yourself between the proverbial rock and a hard place. You are stuck in a situation with no exit. But God is with you in that mess! Praise Him and see what He can do.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, speak to the hearts of all who are troubled and give them Your peace that passes all understanding. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

I Take Refuge in You – A Shiggaion (High quality voices) of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

“O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers, or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands, if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause, then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment. Let the assembled peoples encompass You; take Your seat over them on high. The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity. Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day. If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.

Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood. He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.“

 Once more, David is begging God for help and protection. Evidently, Cush, one of King Saul’s tribesmen, has been pursuing David, probably in hopes of eliminating him as a possible candidate for king.

Originally, God wanted to be the only King over the Israelites; however, they whined and rebelled, demanding a human king. The prophet Samuel attempted to warn the Israelites; however, they persisted. God appointed Saul from the tribe of Benjamin as the first king over Israel; however, Saul proved to be a disappointment. Rather than staying close to God and following God’s commands to the letter, Saul “got the big head” and played fast and loose with God’s commands.

When it became obvious that Saul was consistently disobedient, God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint David, the son of a wealthy farmer named Jesse from the town of Bethlehem. David was the youngest son, of whom Jesse thought so little that when Samuel arrived, Jesse left David to remain in the field with the sheep. Samuel viewed all the sons Jesse thought were important; however, not one of them was God’s choice for the next king. It was Samuel who had to demand that David come in from the field to be anointed.

Once David was anointed, the favor of God began to rest on him in a remarkable way. During the time David had been out in the fields with the sheep, he had begun praying and worshiping God. Now God promoted David so that he became a mighty warrior as well. Refusing to acknowledge God’s Will, Saul and his supporters attempted to eliminate David, hounding his men and him throughout the Judean wilderness. It was likely during this time that David composed this psalm.

“O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers, or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.”  David has gone from being a court favorite to running for his life. People whom David has trusted are now informing on him in hopes of currying favor with King Saul.  

“O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands, if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause, then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust.”

“Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment. Let the assembled peoples encompass You; take Your seat over them on high. The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity. Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.”

David’s hands are clean, and he realizes that actions have consequences. This psalm is obviously an early one written before the shameful incident with Bathsheba.

“My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day. If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.

Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood. He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head. I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.“  David’s back is to the wall; if God fails him, he will die quickly. David is trusting God to deliver him.

APPLICATION: What does being a whistle blower have to do with David and why designate this psalm as “The Whistle Blower’s Psalm?” Corruption is spreading throughout the world and political agendas have become more important than anything else. Honest men and women who see problems and attempt to draw public attention to them are stifled at best and conveniently eliminated at worst. One horrific example is the number of men and women who have attempted to report problems with various aspects of the behavior of a former U.S. president and his wife, only to die under mysterious circumstances.

Yet another set of whistle blowers having a tough time are those pointing out the deficiencies of electric vehicles, including the deplorable conditions under which the lithium required for these vehicles is being mined.

In an earlier age, Galileo was persecuted by the Catholic Church for teaching that the earth revolved around the sun and not the other way around. Galileo spent the rest of his life under house arrest. It took 359 years and the leadership of Pope John II to recognize the wrong. On October 31, 1992, he (Pope John II) formally apologized for the “Galileo Case” in the first of many famous apologies during his papacy.”  (https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1997272_1997273_1997285,00.

html#:~:text=Galileo%20took%20back%20his%20statement,famous%20apologies%20during%20his%20papacy.)

Many of us face our own trials that, while far less politically significant, still present major challenges. We can freely pray this psalm, trusting that the same God who helped David will continue to help us also. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words and who are suffering unjust persecution to put their trust in You as they pray the words of this psalm. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who will give You thanks?

I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.”

Once more, David is in distress-enemies on every side, friends betraying him, family deserting him. David is in such anguish that he literally hurts all over; every joint in his body feels as if he’s been beaten. All David’s attempts to encourage himself have failed and he has wept so many tears he feels his bed will float off at any moment. There is nobody to whom David can turn for help, apart from God.

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.” Has David sinned against God? David isn’t certain, but in case he has sinned, David is begging for forgiveness. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.” When nobody else around David will help or encourage him, David must turn to God and beg for mercy.

“My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long?” Sometimes trials seem endless; just as we have settled one problem, two more pop up. And the more the problems multiply, the less human help we receive; in fact, our friends and acquaintances may assume that we deserve all these problems. Surely we must have committed some secret sin to be in so much trouble!

“Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who will give You thanks?” David is so depressed that he thinks he is about to die; yet, he still calls on God to save him.

“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.” David is exhausted emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

 “Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.”  Convinced that God has heard and is acting on his behalf, David now rebukes all those attacking him. David does not beg God to kill his enemies, but he does beg that those opposing him will be “ashamed suddenly.” David begs that all his enemies’ slanderous accusations will prove so ridiculous that they will be ashamed to have ever made them in the first place.

APPLICATION: I am writing this Bible study on September 11, 2023, the 22^nd anniversary of the villainous attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. If not for the courageous actions of the passengers of United Flight 93, who stormed the cockpit and downed the plane in Pennsylvania, another plane might have flown into the White House. As we have watched several television programs depicting the events of that day, I find myself intensely praying for the survivors, for the families, for all the emergency workers who responded and their families.

The amazing thing about that tragedy is not the number of people who died but rather the number of people who were saved, many of them miraculously. Due to the vigilance of the Head of Security for the World Trade Center, evacuation drills had been carried out quarterly ever since an earlier abortive attack in 1993. It is estimated that those drills alone saved at least 2,000 people. That man was last seen re-entering the building to find others and lead them out; sadly, the buildings collapsed around him. Fire fighters and others led victims to safety and then returned to save more.

Many of these people can identify with David’s sentiments in this psalm. No matter how much time has passed, the cataclysmic events of that day remain fresh in the minds of millions of people. Those who have most successfully recovered appear to be those with a strong faith in God. These people can certainly bear witness to the truths David has described in this psalm.  

One family has taken the contributions that have flowed into them to establish a scholarship in honor of their little daughter, a math whiz. Others have found new ways of helping others around them who are grieving.

Psalm 6 and others like it are helpful because we can repeat them when we have no words for our own distress. David’s prayers can become our prayers as well. Whatever you are facing today, remember that God is always with you and that the same God who led those brave people to lay down their lives for others on September 11, 2001, will be with you in your suffering. There is a saying that “When you find yourself at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” I would add, “Hang on, for God is there with you.”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, You know those who are in distress and hopeless, feeling they have nobody to help. Speak to those people’s hearts, that they will know that You love them, that You are with them, and that You will never leave them or forsake them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.

“Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,  nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”

Well, David’s enemies are at it again, so once more David is begging God for help and protection. Despite all of David’s successes in battle and his appealing charismatic personality, there are always those who are working behind the scenes, attempting to undermine David. After all, Saul was the first king of Israel and David is only the second one. Why can’t a crafty individual manipulate the people and seize power?  And then there are threats from surrounding nations who would love to annex Israel and its mineral wealth and trade routes.

Facing such daunting situations, what is David’s response?

1. “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.”  David doesn’t waste any time. First thing in the morning, David is praying and asking God for guidance and protection.
2. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,  nor shall evil dwell with You.” Does God need to be reminded of His character? Certainly not! But David is reminding himself of God’s righteousness that will not allow God to tolerate evil in any form.
3. “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Here David is describing his enemies, especially those who have been working to undermine him by any means possible.
4. “But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.” David is not coming to God trusting in his own righteousness, but in God’s mercy. David respects God and stands in awe of Him; this heart attitude allows David to worship God with a clean heart.
5. “Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face.” David knows that without God’s guidance, he will fail and be defeated. Is God willing to guide David? Certainly! But by this request, David is humbling himself to receive God’s guidance. We cannot receive anything from God as long as we feel sufficient in ourselves.
6. “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.” David realizes that those opposing him carry with them the seeds of their own destruction. God has anointed David to be king over Israel, so all those opposing his kingship are wrong. Failing to acknowledge the Will of God, these people are rebelling against God and will fail.
7. “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”  These verses are some of the most encouraging affirmations available. When we trust God, we can rejoice because we are trusting the Lord of the Universe. When God gives His favor to someone, nobody can oppose it!

APPLICATION: This is another one of my favorite psalms for obvious reasons. During the years when I headed a mission hospital, critics were everywhere. Our facility cares for poor subsistence farmers in a remote part of northeastern Ghana. While the heavenly rewards are out of this world, earthly rewards are by no means abundant.

It is tempting for our staff to compare their situation with that of workers in wealthier parts of Ghana. In addition, the part of the district that includes the district capital and our hospital can become a giant island during the rainy season. As I write these words, we are having to bring in supplies by hauling them to a river, bringing them across in canoes, and then hauling them on into our hospital.

When David wrote this psalm, he knew that God had anointed him as king over Israel and that he was called to that work. We too know that God has called us to remain and to work under these difficult conditions.

Many of us find ourselves stuck in difficult situations from which there is no easy exit. No matter where we are, we can pray along with David, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”  

God may not deliver you out of your situation, but God can defend you and give you joy and favor in your situation. If you know those who are going through tough times, you can also pray these verses over them for God’s protection and favor. Who knows what miracles God will do in answer to your prayers?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we need Your protection, Your grace, and Your favor. Help us to confess our sins to You so that You can continue to bless us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Answer Me When I Call!

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies?

Selah

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.  Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still.

Selah

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the LORD.

Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with more joy than when grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!” Once more, David speaks to our needs. We aren’t sure which crisis has prompted this prayer, but obviously, David is facing severe criticism and possible physical attack as well. Notice that David addresses God as “the God of my righteousness.” David knows that before he can make requests, his heart and his hands must be clean. Unconfessed sin of any kind raises barriers between God and people and makes it impossible for us to make requests. Notice that God already knows we are sinful; we are the ones who need to make confession.  

“You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.” Throughout David’s life, he has repeatedly gone to God for help and has never been refused. David is basing this request on a long experience with a God of grace who has answered in the past.

“How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies?” David is under attack by those who would slander him and spoil his name. These critics are attempting to inflate their reputations by destroying David’s. Many of us can readily identify with this!

 “Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.”  God has helped David before and David is confident that God will come through for him again. There’s no point in calling someone if you don’t expect them to answer, but David is sure of God’s provision.

“Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still.”  Getting angry is a normal part of human life; however, we sin when we persist in our anger. It’s important to recognize our anger and forgive those who have offended us. We need to search our hearts because we may also have offended others and we need to face our own shortcomings as well.

“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the LORD.” While David might be referring to animal sacrifices, what sacrifices might we offer? Once we have searched our hearts, we need to confess our sins to God and ask His forgiveness. Once our hearts are clean, we can readily trust in the Lord.

“Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.”  If we are searching for good, which way are we looking? Are we actually searching for God to shine His light on us, or are we searching for good in all the wrong places?

“You have filled my heart with more joy than when grain and new wine abound.” Jewish feasts were generally centered around harvests when grain and new wine were readily available, allowing for wonderful celebrations. David feels God gives him even more joy than he might feel during any of these celebrations.

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”  No matter how many enemies surround David, he can sleep securely, knowing that God is in control.

APPLICATION: This psalm is one of my favorites for a number of reasons. During the Northern Ethnic Conflict of 1994, our village was under military occupation and we listened closely when we heard gunfire. Were those guns the military simply indicating their presence, was there a traditional funeral, or were people screaming, indicating that we were under attack? Was this the time we would need to grab the backpack with our passports and money and run for the River Oti to cross into Togo? Blessedly, we were never attacked, but we comforted ourselves with Psalm 4:8 on many occasions.

We have faced many personal medical problems. My husband jokes that he is a bionic man with artificial hips and a triple coronary artery bypass. Repeated bouts of typhoid have left me with fibromyalgia. We have lost many friends and relatives to various medical problems. At times, we have faced slanderous attacks by people hoping to gain money or influence. We can definitely identify with David as he asks, “How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies?”  Our testimony after all these years is that God remains faithful and that He will give us peace in the midst of any trial.

King David was not a perfect man by any means. Desiring someone else’s wife, David arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. But David repented and God forgave him. We too sin and make mistakes, but God will forgive us when we confess our faults. At the end of everything, we can still say with David, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”  

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to put their trust in You and to rest in You, for You alone can give perfect peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Deliver Me, O LORD!

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom

“O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me! Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah (Pause and calmly think on that)

But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side.
Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people.” Selah

Although King David was wildly popular at the beginning of his reign, now a new problem has surfaced. David has an incredibly handsome and charismatic son named Absalom. Absalom realizes that if David dies, he will not be first in the line of succession because David has already promised to make Solomon king in his place.

The story is told in 2 Samuel 15-18. Absalom craftily plans a campaign to win the love of the people. “Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.” And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.” Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him. Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

Absalom goes down to Hebron, ostensibly to offer sacrifices; however, he brings a number of people with him.   Once in Hebron, Absalom proclaims himself as king and recruits David’s most trusted counselor Ahithophel as his advisor. When David hears the news, he and his court flee Jerusalem. David is so distraught that he walks barefoot and weeping over the Mount of Olives. David’s life is falling apart. His beloved son whose name means “Father of peace” has turned out to be a scoundrel and a betrayer. For David, it appears that all is lost and that his life has been a complete failure. It is at this point in David’s life that he composes this psalm.

If the expression “lower than a ditch digger’s boots” had been in use during David’s day, he might have used it to describe his condition as he wrote this psalm. For David, it appears that all his friends and supporters have deserted him, although that is not really the case. A large group of people are accompanying David, and all of them are ascending the Mount of Olives barefoot and weeping. As David and his followers continue eastward and cross the Jordan, powerful people come to their aid, bringing food and drink and sheltering them.

David’s fears are realistic because Ahithophel counsels Absalom to immediately send soldiers after David’s group to seize David and kill him. David’s life is spared because David’s friend Hushai suggests that they defer Ahithophel’s plan until the following day. Hushai then messages David to cross the Jordan as quickly as possible to avoid attack. Even amid this disaster, God is still working to preserve David’s life. Ultimately, David returns to Jerusalem. Absalom is killed during a battle when the long hair of which he is so proud gets caught in tree branches as he is fleeing the battle on his mule. Joab, David’s general, kills Absalom as he is hanging in the tree.

APPLICATION: Reading Psalm 3, we can see why the Book of Psalms is the most widely-read and widely-quoted book of the Bible. No matter what is happening in your life, you can find a psalm that will speak to your condition.  

For many of us, David’s condition might be ours as well. Through the years, we have sponsored a number of young people to professional courses in nursing. Some of these same people have then turned around to bring false accusations in hopes of somehow gaining more money from the hospital or from us. In at least one such case, the individual has left nursing to become a pastor. We can only wonder what might happen if this man continues to pursue his rebellious and ungrateful behavior in his new profession, not to mention how he will feel if someone else treats him as he has mistreated us.

We can testify to the truth that God HAS been a shield around us, our glory and the One who lifts up our heads when we have felt defeated. Were these struggles easy? No! Would we willingly go through them again? Not if we have a choice. Will we face other trials in the future? Most likely! But God remains faithful, no matter what happens, and this is the ultimate message of this psalm. “Salvation belongs to the LORD…”  Interestingly enough, that is the very same thing Jonah says in his prayer while he is still in the belly of the big fish. (Jonah 2:9) Paul, writing to Timothy from prison in 2 Timothy 4:18 says, “And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”   

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, let all those who are suffering or are persecuted trust You, knowing that You will be a shield around them, their glory, and the One who lifts up their heads. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Triumphant Messiah (Acts 4:23-31)

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them. Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury: “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.

You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”

Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

For a short psalm, this poem works on many different levels. First, the psalm refers to the triumphant Messiah. “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One.” Obviously, the Anointed One must be the Messiah. Second, the psalm describes the rebellion of earthly rulers against the God who has created them. “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”

Third, while these rulers are shaking their fists at God, God views them with supreme disdain and then proceeds to enforce His Will. “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them. Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury: “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”  

Fourth, the Messiah speaks for himself. “I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”

Finally, God issues a final warning to earthly rulers: “Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

APPLICATION: The phrase “Your arm’s too short to box with God” was originally used by the famous African American author James Weldon Johnson in his book God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse. Johnson in turn claimed to have borrowed the phrase from a pastor friend. The point of the phrase is simple: God is all-powerful and we are not. We can shake our fists at God, shout at Him, tell Him how we refuse to do His Will, and all this rebellion will still have no effect.

Currently, North Korea and Russia may be entering into an arms agreement that could result in disaster for Ukraine. There have been numerous coups in Africa, most recently in Gabon. Throughout the world, there are rulers drunk with power who want to believe that they are omnipotent. But God is not impressed with these rulers.

God has sent His Son, Jesus, the Messiah, and has given him the nations of the earth. We can trust God to handle evil rulers. We can also trust God to handle whatever problems we encounter. As I am writing this, three of our patients are struggling with draining fecal fistulas that are difficult to control. Our nurses and our nutrition team must continue to trust that God is capable of healing these patients completely. We wish God would heal these patients instantly, relieving all of us; however, we have to believe that God is working out His purposes. One result of these problems is that our Nutrition Unit is beginning to function as it never has before.

A Facebook friend has just written that her husband is going into hospice care on a dilaudid pump to control the pain from his cancer. I have no power to do anything in that situation; however, God can give this precious lady and her beloved husband the grace to endure this situation or He can heal him miraculously. (For believers, death also brings healing and release, but that’s a subject for another day.)

If our arms are too short to box with God and we have little control over our own situations, what can we do? The answer is in the final line. “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”  We can take refuge in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the One who holds the nations of the earth in His hand.  

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are suffering and feel helpless and confused. We see no light in our situations. But You, Lord, have told us that You are the Light of the World and that those who know You will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Lord, enlighten those in the dark. Heal those who are suffering in any fashion, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. And help all who read these words to put their trust in You. In Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

 BOOK ONE  Psalms 1–41

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

God has allowed this Psalm to be the first, not because it is the longest but because it makes such an important point: bad company corrupts. “Walking in the counsel of the ungodly” means to follow advice from people who have no fear of God or His commandments. One of our friends used to have a poster that read, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll wind up somewhere else.”

“nor stands in the path of sinners” Sometimes we are tempted to “walk on the wild side,” forgetting that there is always a price for such behavior. Sleep with enough people and you will wind up with HIV or Hepatitis B, C, D, E, or even some new strain that will devour your liver. Many young people have attempted to remain on the fringe of gangs because they think it is brave or glamorous, only to die from gunshot wounds. Several years ago, a gifted young basketball player had just matched with his dream program. A “friend” gave him cocaine to celebrate; that celebration resulted in the young man dying from an overdose, his dreams in tatters and his family’s hearts broken.

It’s a common sight in African, Asian, and Middle Eastern villages at certain times of the year. Women pour grain from one container into another, allowing the wind to carry away the chaff, leaving only the good grain. Nobody cares about the chaff, and it’s so useless that the goats might not even eat it.

How can we stay focused? “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”  The more we read God’s Word, the Bible, the more it will speak to us and the more sense it will make to us. God is really sneaky! Reading God’s Word changes us without our even being aware. God will never override our free will, but when we read His Word, our “want-to’s” change. Notice one thing: God’s idea of prosperity is not ours. Many times, we think only of financial prosperity, while God wants us to be spiritually prosperous.

APPLICATION: GIGO! This phrase stands for “garbage in, garbage out,” and it first became popular in the 1980’s when computer use was on the upswing. Computers are wonderful; however, you will only get out of a computer what you put into it. Here God is telling us that we are like computers. If we want our lives to be fruitful and positive, we must study God’s Word. Put garbage into our minds and we will get out garbage and failure. Binge on Netflix series or become addicted to games on your cell phone and you have wasted time better spent in something else. (I have a list of games I have had to remove from my phone because I became addicted.)

Nowadays, Bible apps for cell phones are everywhere, making it easy to study God’s Word. Last Sunday, we visited a friend’s church in a small village and half the people there were reading the Bible from their cell phones. I keep one English translation and versions in two different tribal languages on my phone as a means of studying those languages as well as studying the Bible. If you’re not fond of reading, there are audio versions to which you can listen while driving or doing other things.  

How much of the Bible should you read at a time? Years ago, Evelyn Christensen, a wonderful teacher on intercessory prayer, suggested that we should read until God stops us and then ask God what He wants to show us with the verse or verses. How do you know when to stop? Stop when it quits making sense to you. Go back to the last verse where it made sense and ask God for insight. You can trust God to enlighten you.

Jesus told his disciples in John 10:10 that ^“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  God wants us to have wonderful lives, and to see His purposes fulfilled in them.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to take this Psalm to heart and to follow Your leading throughout our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Today’s introduction to this very important book of the Bible comes from Reverend Chuck Swindoll’s Insight for Living website. I have treasured Rev. Swindoll’s writing for years and can highly recommend his books, his podcasts, and his website.

Who wrote the book?  

Psalms, a collection of lyrical poems, is one of only two Old Testament books to identify itself as a composite work containing multiple authors (Proverbs is the other). Some psalms name their author in the first line or title. For example, Moses wrote Psalm 90. David was responsible for many of them, composing seventy-three psalms. Asaph wrote twelve; the descendants of Korah penned ten. Solomon wrote one or two, and Ethan and Heman the Ezrahites were responsible for two others. The remainder of the psalms do not contain information about their authors.

The book was originally titled Tehillim, which means “praise songs” in Hebrew. The English title of “Psalms” originated from the Septuagint’s Greek title Psalmoi, also meaning “songs of praise.”¹

Where are we?

Individual psalms were written as far back in history as Moses’s time, through the time of David, Asaph, and Solomon, to the time of the Ezrahites who most likely lived after the Babylonian captivity, meaning the writing of the book spans one thousand years. Some of the psalms attributed to David have additional notations connecting them with documented events in his life (for example, Psalm 59 is linked with 1 Samuel 19:11; Psalm 56 is connected with 1 Samuel 21:10–15; Psalm 34 is associated with 1 Samuel 21:10–22:2; and Psalm 52 is linked with 1 Samuel 22:9).

The psalms are organized into five books or collections. They were probably collected gradually, as corporate worship forms developed along with temple worship. It is likely that by the time of Ezra, the books of the Psalter were organized into their final form. Each section concludes with a doxology, with the entire Psalter capped by Psalm 150, a grand doxology.

Why is Psalms so important?

The psalms comprised the ancient hymnal of God’s people. The poetry was often set to music—but not always. The psalms express the emotion of the individual poet to God or about God. Different types of psalms were written to communicate different feelings and thoughts regarding a psalmist’s situation.

Psalms of lament express the author’s crying out to God in difficult circumstances. Psalms of praise, also called hymns, portray the author’s offering of direct admiration to God. Thanksgiving psalms usually reflect the author’s gratitude for a personal deliverance or provision from God. Pilgrim psalms include the title “a song of ascent” and were used on pilgrimages “going up” to Jerusalem for three annual festivals. Other types of psalms are referred to today as wisdom psalms, royal psalms (referring to Israel’s king or Israel’s Messiah), victory psalms, Law psalms, and songs of Zion.

The psalms include unique Hebrew terms. The word Selah, found seventy-one times, is most likely a musical notation added by worship leaders after the Israelites incorporated the psalm into public worship. Scholars do not know the meaning of maskil, found in thirteen psalms. Occasionally, a psalm appears with instructions for the song leader. For example, we see instructions such as “For the director of music” (occurring in fifty-five psalms [NIV]); “To the tune of ‘Lilies’” (similar references found in Psalms 45, 60, 69, 80 NIV); “To the tune of ‘The Doe of the Morning’ ” (Psalm 22 NIV); “To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’ ” (Psalms 57–59, 75 NIV). These and others can refer to melodies used with the given psalm or perhaps to suggestions for liturgical use.

What’s the big idea?

The book of Psalms expresses worship. Throughout its many pages, Psalms encourages its readers to praise God for who He is and what He has done. The Psalms illuminate the greatness of our God, affirm His faithfulness to us in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His Word. As the Psalms present a clear picture of God lovingly guiding His people, the responses of praise and worship to God are never far from the psalmists’ pens. The portrayal of worship in the Psalms offers us glimpse after glimpse of hearts devoted to God, individuals repentant before Him, and lives changed through encounters with Him. 

How do I apply this?

Read Psalm 1, then Psalm 150. Thank God for allowing you to express your deepest emotions to Him. If you are hurting, use Psalm 13 as a guide and write your own lament to God. If you are rejoicing, meditate on Psalm 30 and echo the praise found there. No matter your circumstance, the psalms contain a corresponding word that will help you share your heart with the Lord.

 Zelophehad’s Daughters Marry (Numbers 27:1-5)

“Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached and addressed Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families, saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. But if they marry any of the men from the other tribes of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the portion of our fathers and added to the tribe into which they marry. So our allotted inheritance would be taken away. And when the Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to the tribe into which they marry and taken away from the tribe of our fathers.”

So at the word of the LORD, Moses commanded the Israelites: “The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks correctly. This is what the LORD has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: They may marry anyone they please, provided they marry within a clan of the tribe of their father. No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. Every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. No inheritance may be transferred from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance.”

So the daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD had commanded Moses. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to cousins on their father’s side. They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained within the tribe of their father’s clan.

These are the commandments and ordinances that the LORD gave to the Israelites through Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.”

Although the Israelites have yet to enter the Promised Land, God is already laying down the regulations for dividing the land and inheriting it. Clans are to retain the land allotted to them, no matter what happens. Although generally men are to inherit land from their fathers, what happens if there are no male heirs? Here God is addressing that question. Zelophehad is a man from the tribe of Manasseh. Zelophehad dies, leaving only daughters. Naturally, clan members are concerned that if these girls marry, the land will pass to a different clan or even to a different tribe. God’s answer is to have the girls marry cousins within a clan of the tribe of their father.

This discussion also concludes the Book of Numbers. Next, Moses goes on to summarize all God’s commandments for the Israelites in the Book of Deuteronomy, a book we have already discussed. But in the midst of the bookkeeping and censuses, remember that the Book of Numbers has fascinating stories that give us insight into God’s ways with His people.

APPLICATION: God cares about the finest details of our lives, including inheritances and our choice of spouses. God is also a problem-solving God, who can help sort out the thorniest problems we may present Him. These women naturally want to marry; yet, they must not marry a very close relative. At the same time, if the women do not inherit from their father, it is as if their family is being blotted out of their clan. Such an event could set nasty precedents. God wants to ensure that land remains in tribes and clans and that His commands are followed precisely. The answer is for the women to marry distant cousins but to retain the land for their father’s clan.

Many times we find that our ways are dark. We have difficult decisions to make with no idea which direction to take. But we can trust the God Who has created us and Who loves us better than anybody else to steer us in the right direction.

Perhaps you find yourself struggling with a decision today. You have weighed pros and cons and are no nearer to a solution than you were before. Pray and ask God to help You. God is a good Father who will not play guessing games with His children. If you will take one step forward, God will be able to guide you. But also remember this: it’s impossible to guide a stationary object. If you make a start, God can do a course correction; however, if you sit demanding that God will show you everything before you even begin, nothing will happen. Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are confused and wonder which way to turn. Pierce the darkness and give Your beloved ones light so that they can see the next step. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.