Burunche’s Blog

Rejoicing in Answered Prayer

A Psalm of David.

“To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve. Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.

 Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

The Lord is their strength,[the strength of His people] and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. [Messiah] Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.”

“To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.” This psalm has only 9 verses and yet it is another one of those lifelines David has thrown out to us across the centuries. David is begging God to hear his cries for help because apart from God, he will be as if he is already dead.

“Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts.” David is testifying that his hands and his heart are clean and that he has not been betraying those around him. Happy is the man who can say such things!

“Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve.“ David is fed up with manipulators, liars, and cheats who have dragged his name through the mud and who are only out for their own gain. These rascals appear to be getting away with their bad behavior; if God will at least punish them, David will feel justified.

“Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.”  David is reminding himself that God is the One who keeps the books, and God will bring justice into these situations. Most of David’s life, he does live as if God is watching. While the incident with Bathsheba is a notable exception, there are no other such variations recorded by the scribes keeping the records.

“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.” At the beginning of this psalm, David might be wondering if God really hears him; however, by the end of the psalm, the Holy Spirit has spoken to David’s heart and David is SURE that God has heard and is helping him.

“The Lord is their strength,[the strength of His people] and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. [Messiah] Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.” Given the assurance of the Holy Spirit, David is once again affirming the saving power of God and His ability to guide His people, to deliver them, and to sustain them forever.

If you are acquainted with the history of the kingdom of Israel, you might wonder at these affirmations. Didn’t the kingdom split into two kingdoms and didn’t the Assyrians conquer the northern kingdom of Israel while the Babylonians conquered the southern Kingdom of Judah? Didn’t the survivors wind up as exiles in Assyria and Babylon? Didn’t a small delegation return from Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem? The answer to all these questions is “Yes.” But the kingdom split as a result of bad choices by Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. And both kingdoms pursued idolatry of all kinds, removing themselves from God’s protection. Despite all these dire events, God has continued to watch over Israel and the modern nation of Israel is the result. David’s prayers on behalf of his people are still working!

APPLICATION: This psalm is another major encouragement for all leaders trying to do the right thing. There’s a saying that “If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader. Sell ice cream.” Accept leadership, and you will find yourself with a big target on your back. Suddenly the critics and self-styled advisers are everywhere. Those who covet your power without understanding the pitfalls will try to cut you off at the knees. Your every decision will be scrutinized and you will find yourself feeling as if you are being stoned to death with popcorn as the petty accusations mount up.

One of the things that makes these early psalms of David so appealing is that they are obviously born out of bitter experience. David’s early rejection by his father, his chaotic relationship with King Saul, and his subsequent experiences as a warrior and ruler have all shaped and marked him. There used to be a phrase used by radio DJ’s that “the hits just keep on coming.” While the DJ’s were referring to songs that had become wildly popular, that phrase can also be used in another fashion. Many days, leadership can feel a lot like being trapped inside a popcorn popper just as the kernels are exploding. The heat is on and you are being bombarded with petty stuff from all sides. Just as you succeed in quelling one disturbance, two more explode in your face. It’s enough to make you wish you could just run home, jump in bed, and pull the covers over your head.

The underlying message of this psalm is that God knows our problems, God cares, and God can deliver us from them. Are you struggling? Lay your problems out before God; this will help you focus on possible solutions that God may give you. God already knows all your problems anyway, and He can give perfect guidance. If you are in leadership, it is because God has set you there, whether or not you feel qualified. It is said that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. If God has called you to a work, rest assured that God can train you and guide you so that you will succeed, provided you maintain a teachable spirit.

Hang in there! Continue to look to God for guidance and help! And remember the end of this psalm: “The Lord is their strength, the strength of His people, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.” When God chooses you for a work, you become His anointed for that work and God offers you his saving refuge. You’ll never get a better deal.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are many reading these words who are in positions of responsibility and who are facing stern criticism. Give them Your peace in their hearts and help them to trust in You as their Protector and Refuge. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

A Psalm of David.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat[devour] up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

““The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat[devour] up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.”

This psalm is another wonderful source of comfort and encouragement. While we might be brave during the day, it’s a different matter in the middle of the night with nothing to distract us. That’s when fears can attack and even overwhelm us. That’s when we KNOW we are not sufficient within ourselves. That’s when we KNOW we need the power of the One True Living God.

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Where can we find sanctuary and safety? Only with God. Does David really want to live in the temple for the rest of his life?  Not really. But no matter where David is, for the rest of his life, he will continue to seek the Lord. David’s knowledge of God’s mercy exhilarates him and he breaks into songs of praise.  

“Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.” Remember that David’s father thought so little of him that he was willing to leave David herding sheep in the wilderness at the mercy of wild animals.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.” When we call on God, He will answer and deliver us.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” This is David’s conclusion after all his problems and an encouragement for the rest of us.

APPLICATION: Whenever I read this psalm, I hear my mother’s voice. My beloved mother had a lovely soprano voice and frequently sang solos in church. One of my mother’s favorites was a setting of this psalm. When my mother died suddenly with cancer in 1980, we requested the organist play the music for that solo as part of the prelude music.

We have spent nearly half our lives in cross-cultural situations. Some days we feel as if we are engaged in a log-rolling contest while wearing slick tennis shoes rather than spiked boots. Maintaining our equilibrium can pose a major challenge. Sometimes we find ourselves vibrating from surging emotions. This psalm is one of my go-to scriptures whenever I am facing stress, danger, or criticism. I find that reading this psalm aloud several times calms and soothes me.

Read this psalm over three times and see what it does for you. You’re going to find your muscles relaxing as you de-stress.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, let the message of this psalm permeate our hearts and calm us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption

A Psalm of David.

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me[test me]; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.

I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells[the tabernacle of your glory].

Do not gather my soul with sinners, [Do not take away my soul with sinners] nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.

But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me. My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord.”

““Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me[test me]; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.” David has been pushed to the wall and he is fed up! David has done everything right, but he’s still under attack. No matter how hard David tries to defend himself, there’s always somebody out there trying to betray him. Finally, David is appealing to God for justification.

“I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.” David has done everything he can to avoid bad company.

“I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells[the tabernacle of your glory].” David is practically shouting to God, “Hey! Have you been paying attention? I’ve done everything I can to remain righteous.”

“Do not gather my soul with sinners, [Do not take away my soul with sinners] nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.” David is fully aware that he is only human and therefore sinful; this is why David is begging God to overlook his failings.

“But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me. My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord.” David knows that even when he walks in integrity, he still needs God to keep his feet from slipping, to redeem him and to be merciful to him.

APPLICATION: These early psalms of David’s are very comforting for any noble person who has ever been persecuted for doing the right thing. But is David indulging in a fit of self-righteousness? Can we really speak to God as David is doing in this psalm? And do we dare ask God to examine us as David has done?

First, let’s realize that God already knows all about us-our trials, our triumphs, our successes, and our failings. God knows all our thoughts, both good and bad. If not for God’s mercy, none of us would exist even for a millisecond, for God is righteous and holy and we are not. It is precisely because of God’s mercy and grace that David dares to say the things he does in this psalm. What is wonderful about the psalms is that we see David’s intimate relationship with God, a relationship so close that David is willing to expose himself to God, warts and all.

God doesn’t play favorites. If we will open our hearts to God as David has done, God will meet with us and help us, delivering us from ourselves and changing us into His Image. The Creator and Ruler of the Universe is so full of love and charity that He stoops to meet with us, sinful creatures though we are. God is continually doing miracles, but these miracles of love and grace are among the biggest in the universe. Let us praise Him!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we praise You for Your magnificent charity that moves You to meet with us. We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, so that his blood sacrifice covers all our unrighteousness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

To You I Lift Up My Soul

A Song Of David [This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.]

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.

Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.

Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees. For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him. His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them. My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.

Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress. Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.”

Once more, David is in trouble and calling on God for help This psalm has inspired many memorable praise choruses. For one of the best ones, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqlkWhz-aA .

“To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.” What does it mean to “lift up my soul?” We pray to God, confessing our faults and begging Him to deliver us from our enemies. God is a good Father who will never ignore our pleas for help.

“Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.” When we are under scrutiny, we must be as careful as possible not to put a foot wrong. One day, someone might enter the situation who can solve it. At that point, we don’t want to be found doing wrong things.

“Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age.” Humans can fail, fall sick, and die. But God never changes. Even though the psalmist is begging God to remember His compassion and devotion, it’s David who needs reminding.

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.” God is amazingly patient. Most of us will give up on someone who is recalcitrant; however, God never gives up. We might choose to run away from God, but He remains constant. And God will continue to forgive us as long as we come to him confessing our sins honestly.

“Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him. His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them. My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.” Here the image is one of a bird with its feet caught in a netstruggling to free itself before being seized by the fowler. God promises to instruct believers so that they will take correct paths and avoid Satan’s traps.

“Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress. Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.”  Sooner or later, every one of us will face loneliness and afflictions leaving us feeling overwhelmed. We may find ourselves surrounded by enemies or critics who want nothing better than to see us fail. But praise God, we have a Redeemer who can deliver us from any problems. Our part is to remain faithful while His part is to save us.

APPLICATION: I don’t remember exactly when I discovered this psalm and began applying it to my situation. I was a nerdy teen-ager in a high school culture that glorified athletics and popularity. My academic success did not endear me to some of my classmates. To make matters worse, we moved during the spring of my freshman year and the summer between my junior and senior years, seriously disrupting the few friendships I had managed to form. Completing this perfect storm, I was extremely outspoken and critical, lacerating the feelings of those around me. It took a great deal of courage to be my friend.

 “Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress. Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.” The night I discovered Psalm 25 was a watershed moment for me. I found myself repeating these verses over and over until I was in tears. Did this psalm change me completely? No. But it did help me focus on God instead of my problems and it gave me hope.

Different psalms will speak to us at various moments in our lives. My suggestion? As we study these psalms, find the verses that appear to speak to your situation and copy those onto your cell phone so that you can review them throughout your day. You will find that the more you meditate on your special verses, the more God will use them in your life.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Thank You, that when we are lonely and afflicted, You are still there helping us and comforting us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The King of Glory and His Kingdom

A Psalm of David.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah”

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” This psalm is another small jewel. David begins by asserting God’s ownership over the entire world and everyone in it. Given recent political events around the world, it’s wonderful to remember this fact.

“For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.” God is the Creator and Establisher.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?”  This question is the big one for all of us. God is holy and righteous; only someone who is holy and righteous can approach Him.

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.” How do we make sure our hands are clean and our hearts are pure? We must continue to worship God and God alone, not idols. We also must be people of our word, remaining honest and refusing to swear deceitfully.

“He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” When we follow God’s rules, we will receive God’s blessings and His righteousness. God will be our salvation.

“This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah” When we continue to seek God’s face, we join millions of believers who have come before us.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” When God, the ultimate King appears, all gates and doors will open. No ways are closed to God!

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah” The psalmist answers the question he has posed in the previous verse. God, the Lord of hosts, is the King of glory.

APPLICATION: What do we mean when we refer to God as “the Lord of hosts?” To be Lord means to rule sovereignly over everything and everyone. God rules over all creation but also over myriads of angels.

If you are familiar with Handel’s Messiah, you will recognize verses of this psalm as forming the words for one of the songs in that magnificent work. For an excellent video, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA6_cmOA070

This psalm is an enormous comfort. We are not in charge of the universe; God, the King of glory, the Lord of hosts, is in charge. When we pray to God, we are praying to the Ultimate Authority. We can take comfort that God hears every one of our prayers, no matter how short or how feeble. Personally, many of my prayers consist of “God! Help!”

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Ask the Lord of Hosts for help; he answers knee mail.

Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us wonder if anybody is in charge of anything. Help all those who read this psalm to remember that You are the Lord God Almighty, the Lord of hosts, and that no gates are closed to You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

These six short verses form the best-known and best-loved of all the psalms. Untold numbers of the dying beg for someone to read this psalm to them. Heart-broken people find their refuge and encouragement in this psalm. What is it about this psalm that makes it so appealing?

When considering this psalm, we must remember that David began life as a shepherd, herding sheep out in the wilderness. Sheep are stupid animals and stubborn in their stupidity. Given the opportunity, sheep will wander off after the next appealing piece of grass, no matter the danger. Wild animals, rushing water, storms-nothing matters to sheep but getting food and comfort; meanwhile, the poor shepherd is the one who must deliver the sheep from whatever predicaments they have gotten into.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” When God is guiding us, we can trust Him to know our needs before we do and to take care of those needs.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” Sheep need green pastures in which to graze and rest. To a sheep, green pastures represent safety and comfort. Sheep also need still waters from which to drink. No sheep wants to try to drink from rapidly flowing water; they might get washed away and drown. Again, the image is one of peace and safety.

“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Face it, many of us wind up feeling repeatedly bruised and abused. Only God can fully heal our spirits. God is righteous and He wants us to be righteous as well. If we will allow God to guide us, He will lead us in the right direction, for He can do nothing less.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Live long enough and you will encounter dangers-health problems, job loss, financial down turns, and other problems that can be life-threatening. No matter what we encounter, we can trust God. A shepherd’s rod is used for protection and defense while the staff is used to help extricate sheep from dangerous locations. We can trust God’s protection and defense. Does this verse mean that we won’t die from cancer or heart attacks? No. One of my friends has just lost her husband, a strong believer, to a vicious form of cancer. But in the midst of all the health crises and hospital admissions, God has been faithful to this couple and is continuing to uphold the remaining family members.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” The image here is one of God preparing a feast for us right in front of those who have starved, hated, and persecuted us. God can give us victory even in front of those who have hoped to destroy us.

“You anoint my head with oil…” Anointing oil was used for many reasons. If a sheep had a wound, pouring oil on the wound would keep flies off as it helped the wound to heal. Anointing oil was also used when dedicating priests and kings. For God to anoint our heads with oil means that God is pouring out healing and favor on us.

“My cup runs over.” God is not stingy; when God pours out blessings, He gives exuberantly and abundantly, above all that we can possibly ask or think. The image here is of God pouring so much wine into our cups that they overflow.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This last verse is the most encouraging promise of the entire psalm. Many Christian congregations in Ghana repeat this verse at the end of their services to remind their members of God’s promises.

APPLICATION: If you don’t memorize any other psalm, memorize this one! These six short verses contain spiritual dynamite. There is really no life challenge you might face that cannot be addressed by this psalm. There are many different translations of this psalm. Find the one that is most meaningful to you and memorize that one.

During my senior year of medical school, I suffered a severe depression. There were several times when I considered suicide; however, I realized that would devastate my family. Out of love for my family, I refused to kill myself. At times when I felt panic rising inside me, suddenly I would feel as if I was an abused dog and someone was petting me gently, comforting me. The panic would leave and I would be able to function again. During this time, this psalm was one of my lifelines, and I repeated it several times a day.

This psalm is still one of my go-to scriptures for encouragement. Copy it on note cards or on your cell phone so that you can read it several times a day. You will find it helps to calm and encourage you.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please let this psalm speak to all those who read it. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah

To the Chief Musician. Set to [Aijeleth Hashahar]“The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip [Show contempt with their mouth], they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God. Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard.

My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.”

There are some times when David’s psalms overlap between the personal and prophetic. On one level, this psalm describes Davd’s despair at the repeated vicious attacks of his enemies. Day after day and night after night, David continues to beg God for relief; yet no relief appears. On a higher level, this psalm prophesies the sufferings Jesus the Messiah later suffered at the hands of religious leaders more afraid of the Romans than of God.

“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed.” All this time, David persists in reminding himself of God’s previous mercies and deliverance; meanwhile, David’s critics mock him for his ridiculous faith.

“Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” These are the verses where the personal and prophetic blur. While David is describing his own despair, he is also predicting the events of the morning of Good Friday when Jesus will endure a mock trial and be nailed to a cross. Roman soldiers will throw dice for Jesus’ garments.

“My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.”

Eventually, David emerges unscathed from all his trials. Eventually, Jesus will triumph over death and the grave, rising from the dead on Easter morning. Throughout David’s sufferings and those of Jesus, God will triumph completely.

APPLICATION: The test of a prophet is whether or not his prophecies come true. Judging David by that test, he is truly a prophet. David lived roughly 1,000 years before Jesus, so how could David predict describe Jesus’ sufferings so accurately? Only God could give David such insights. It is ironic that the same people who refuse to accept Psalm 22 as a prophetic description of the sufferings of the Messiah are fully ready to believe in the arrival of ancient aliens on earth or the existence of the lost city of Atlantis.

How can this psalm help each of us? As you read this psalm, see what verses appear to speak to your situation and then turn those verses into prayers. Are you facing undeserved vicious opposition? “But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!”

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard.“ “Lord, You have not hidden Your face from me. You have promised that when I cry, You will hear me. Lord, I believe that You are hearing me and that You are going to deliver me from those who hate me.”

Repeatedly, God describes David as a man after His own heart; yet, David has suffered periods of extreme discouragement and doubt. If David has suffered and yet God has delivered him, we too can trust God to deliver us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to take heart that You stand ready to deliver all who call on Your Name. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Joy in the Salvation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

“The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—Length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger; the Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You; they devised a plot which they are not able to perform. Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.”

 “The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah” David is celebrating, and we are invited to celebrate with him! God has delivered David once more, bringing salvation and giving David his heart’s desire.

“For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—Length of days forever and ever.”  David has watched as his predecessor Saul has messed up, forfeiting the chance to found a royal dynasty. Now it is David’s turn, and he might be excused if he is nervous. What if David also fails to do God’s will? But God has saved David and has made him king and has given him sons to carry on his legacy.

Why does David speak of everlasting life? Surely, David realizes that some day he too will become old and die. We must remember that David has a three-fold ministry as prophet, priest, and king, foreshadowing the Messiah. Here David is prophesying about the eternal life that only God can give, something beyond traditional Jewish beliefs at that time. David is looking beyond the grave to being with God forever.

“His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.” David is not trusting in his own wealth or power but in God’s salvation and blessings. David trusts that God has established him and that he will be secure because of God, not through his own efforts. But notice something else. David says that God has made him “exceedingly glad” with His presence. Say what? How is this possible All those lonely nights herding sheep have forced David to depend on God for comfort and companionship. In the stillness of the desert with nobody else around, David has learned to listen for God’s quiet voice of comfort and assurance.

“Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger; the Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against You; they devised a plot which they are not able to perform. Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.”

Does God have enemies? Absolutely! Many people hate God because He is good and all-powerful and they are not. Satan and one third of the angels fell from heaven because they rebelled against God; now those same fallen angels roam the earth, seeking anyone who is unhappy to turn their hearts and minds away from God’s goodness. But the wonderful news is that no matter how hard Satan tries, God will still win.

“Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.” We cannot possibly give God all the praise and glory that He deserves. Only God can achieve perfection. But we can praise God for His mighty power and the marvelous things that He does.

APPLICATION: These last few days have been very difficult. At our hospital, we have lost two teenagers with chronic problems who we thought would recover and go home to rejoice with their families. A preacher friend who has gone on to glory used to say that “We are only in advertising while God is in management.” Even though we have prayed earnestly for these children and their families, God has allowed them to die at this time. How can we praise God under such circumstances? But on the other hand, how can we not praise God? God has allowed us to do our best to try to help these people. We can only pray that during the months of hospital admission, God has demonstrated His love, His mercy, and His grace to the families involved.

One thing difficult for us to realize here is that many of the children who come to the hospital are from terrible home situations, places where people worship traditional fetishes and practice all sorts of vile things. One child whom God sent to us several years ago had likely been sold to someone as a child slave. When this little girl became sick and was sent home, her grandmother beat her; in fact, even during the child’s hospital stay, the grandmother was still physically abusing her. Thankfully, we were able to place the girl with our hospital chaplain and his family. We give money for the girl’s upkeep and education and she is enjoying school for the first time in her life and making good grades as well.

God is still on the throne, even if we do not understand His ways. But we can still agree with David, “Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.” We don’t have to understand God to praise Him. And when we praise, God gives us more light.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we praise and bless You for Your mighty works in our lives. Help us to trust You even when things become dark or difficult. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Assurance of God’s Saving Work

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; may He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.

We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King [Commissioned One, Messiah] answer us when we call.”

Once more, David gives us a psalm that is short but memorable. There are two main parts of this psalm: a general blessing on the hearers and a specific request for help for the king from the Messiah, the King of the Universe.

1. “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you..”

Sooner or later, every one of us is going to face problems. When trouble comes, it helps to know that the God of Jacob, the Lord of the Universe, will defend us when we call.

• May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; may He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice.” Although the temple in Jerusalem no longer exists and burnt offerings are no longer offered, we can still beg God for help. God will help us because of His mercy and grace.
• “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.” This verse assumes that our hearts’ desires and purposes are acceptable to God. We cannot ask for God to bless anything evil.
• “We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.”  This statement assumes that God will definitely save those who call on Him. The psalmist is already planning the celebration when God moves.

• “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.” How can David say this? David is speaking from repeated experiences of God’s deliverance.

• “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” No matter what kind of weapons our enemies have, God is more than sufficient for any challenge, and at the end of the day, we will be victorious.
• “Save, Lord! May the King [Commissioned One, Messiah] answer us when we call.” Here David is calling on the King of the Universe, the Messiah, to deliver him as the king of Israel.

APPLICATION: For a haunting musical presentation of this psalm, you can go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFMKDlyiH-U

This psalm is another faith builder. Once more, we can thank all the rotten experiences that David endured, for he could never speak of God’s deliverance if he had not been forced to depend on God.

There’s an old saying, “What makes for good judgment? Bad experience!” Very few of us learn from good experiences; most of us learn from mistakes. But praise God, we aren’t stuck with our messes. God is still a Deliverer and He is more than equal to any problem. Right now we are struggling with one of those thorny problems that we can’t talk about. But God already knows all the facets of the situation and He has a perfect solution. Our job is to keep looking at Him and continuing to seek His guidance.

Two years ago, we returned to the U.S. for a few months, knowing that my husband’s remaining brother was dying with complications from Agent Orange. We had one evening and the following morning with him before he died on August 29, 2021. What we didn’t anticipate was that one of my brothers would be dying from COVID pneumonia as we were leaving the U.S. to return to Ghana. (We went with his blessing and the blessing of his family.) Throughout these harrowing experiences, it was God who kept us steady and centered. Would we willingly endure these experiences again? Nope! But have these experiences enabled us to sympathize with others in their grief and loss? Of course. Our testimony throughout all of this is that God is faithful and that He is our Deliverer.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are facing sticky situations, and we need Your light, Your truth, and Your guidance. Thank You, that You will bring perfect solutions for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of  the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength[my rock] and my Redeemer.”

This psalm is only 14 verses long, but it’s very powerful. There are three main parts.

1. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.” The first part of the psalm describes the marvels of God’s creation in brief but memorable words.
2. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of  the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” The second part praises God’s laws, commandments, the fear of the Lord, and the Lord’s judgements.
3. “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength[my rock] and my Redeemer.” The final part of the psalm is a heart-felt prayer for the magnificent Lord of the Universe to cleanse our hearts and minds.

APPLICATION: Why does a psalm that ends with a prayer for spiritual assistance begin with a description of the magnificence of God? God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God will remain God, whether or not we praise Him; however, we praise God to remind ourselves of God’s greatness. Unless we remember how great God is, how can we trust Him to help us spiritually?

This psalm has special significance for my husband and me. When we first met at a church prayer meeting, there was a praise chorus based on this psalm that echoed and re-echoed in our hearts and that became part of our story as a couple. (If you’re interested, you can find the song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-ykfw3-i7s for the video with words.)

I find the last few verses are the ones I use the most. “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength[my rock] and my Redeemer.” The older I get, the more I realize that many of my sins stem from presumption based on previous experiences. As we gain experience, we may assume Olympic status as jumpers to conclusions. There is also an increasing temptation to overlook our personal sins while we magnify those of others. Jesus addressed this problem when he compared critics to people walking around with huge beams of wood in their own eyes while they were searching for tiny specks in the eyes of other people.

There’s also another application of these last verses. When we speak, do our words honor the Lord? If we are reading things or enjoying posts on social media, are we entertaining ourselves with things that honor God or not? If someone sends us questionable videos, do we watch them before deleting them? Remember the old computer adage: GIGO-Garbage In Garbage Out.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, keep us back from presumptions sins; let them not have dominion over us. And let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.