Burunche’s Blog

The Joy of Forgiveness

A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

This is one of my favorite psalms for many reasons. First, the psalmist describes a time when he committed some kind of sin and suffered for it. “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.” There’s nothing so heavy as the weight of unconfessed guilt.

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” When we confess our sins, God will forgive us completely. Psalm 103:12 tells us, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” One pastor of our acquaintance is fond of saying that God throws our sins into the sea of forgetfulness and puts up a “No Fishing” sign.

“For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.” Because of God’s forgiveness, we can pray in emergencies and trust God to deliver us.

“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”No matter what we are suffering, we can still turn to God as a spiritual hiding place.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,

else they will not come near you.” We can confidently claim God’s guidance, no matter what the situation. But we must be willing to be guided. Rebellion gets us nothing.

“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” For David, God has forgiven and is guiding and he is rejoicing.

APPLICATION: As I am writing this, I am watching CNN coverage of the war in Israel and the Israeli response. How can we possibly apply this optimistic psalm to such a horrific situation? What about those who have been slaughtered? Were these people particularly sinful that they should die in such a horrible fashion? What about those who have been taken hostage and are being killed one by one as Hamas attempts to use their lives as bargaining chips? Have they done anything to deserve such a terrible fate? One family member whose mother is a hostage has described his mother as a wonderful woman whose only interests have been to help the underprivileged. How can we say that such a woman deserves to suffer in this fashion?

One of the wonderful things about the psalms is that they don’t sugar coat the facts of life. The writers of the psalms don’t pretend that everything is fine; some of the psalmists practically scream “Why?” at God. Bad things happen to good people and the righteous can be slaughtered by the wicked. Life does not come with guarantees that all will be well. Bad things happen-accidents, cancer, strokes, loss of a job, loss of friends or relatives. But even when terrible things happen, we can still turn to God and trust in Him. Even when everything is collapsing around us, God is still there and God remains sovereign.

The attacks on Israel are only the most recent in centuries of such attacks. But how can we affirm that God is our hiding place when we have been carried off by terrorists? How can we trust God’s guidance when we don’t know whether or not we will live to see tomorrow? Even when the worst happens, God is still there and He will give us the strength and the courage to endure whatever comes.

Perhaps you feel that you are at the end of your rope and you can’t endure any more suffering. Turn to God. Let God be your hiding place spiritually and emotionally. Trust Him; He is able.

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. Give them Your assurance in their hearts. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life.

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant;
save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; let the wicked be ashamed; let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You.  Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”   

Once more, David writes a psalm that echoes down the ages to all the righteous who have ever found themselves attempting to clean up a mess, only to face vicious opposition from those who have created the problem in the first place. If you’re not up on your mythology, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has this explanation: “Augean stable most often appears in the phrase “clean the Augean stable,” which usually means “clear away corruption” or “perform a large and unpleasant task that has long called for attention.” Augeas, the mythical king of Elis, kept great stables that held 3,000 oxen and had not been cleaned for thirty years – until Hercules was assigned the job. Hercules accomplished this task by causing two rivers to run through the stables. The word Augean is sometimes used by itself, too – it has come to mean “extremely difficult and usually distasteful.” We can refer to “Augean tasks,” “Augean labor,” or even “Augean clutter.”

Despite the Bathsheba incident and its results, David is a righteous man, if a flawed one. We can’t be certain which crisis in David’s life has prompted this psalm, but we can certainly identify with its sentiments and make David’s prayers our own as well.

““In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Start cleaning up corruption, and those practicing it will form cabals and begin scheming ways to take you down. Those plotting such things will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. Only God knows the human heart and only God knows all the ways such people can lay traps; therefore, only God can save us from such evil.

“I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.” Then, as now, there were those attempting to gain power by spells and enchantments and political influence. When we are in the midst of trials, many friends suddenly disappear, leaving us to fend for ourselves. But God knows our souls in adversity and He will NOT shut us up into the hand of the enemy unless He has a plan for redemption of the enemy as well.

One missionary in South America who was captured by guerilla fighters wound up leading many of his captors to the Lord. God’s plans and purposes are far greater than anything we can imagine. But no matter what happens, if we are trusting in God, whether we live or whether we die, we remain the Lord’s. The Auca Indians killed five missionaries who had come to tell them saving truths; however, the wives of two of those missionaries returned to the tribe. The result was salvation for that remote tribe.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body!” Grief can do terrible things to our immune systems, leaving us open to all kinds of illnesses, including cancer.

“But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies’ sake.” Notice what David does NOT say. David does not say, “Redeem me because I’m such a good guy.” David is trusting in God’s mercy, not in his own righteousness.

“Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”

One of the worst things to face is slanderous attacks and whispering campaigns. Physical enemies are far easier because they are obvious; however, “they say-they say” can lead you down rabbit holes. Rumor mongers will never own up to the damage they have caused; meanwhile, your reputation might lie in ruins. One of the most frustrating things about vicious rumors is the willingness of most people to believe that there must be some basis in fact for them. “Oh, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Not if the smoke is coming from a smoke screen! Little wonder then, that David prays, “Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”

“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”  This psalm has an encouraging ending, one that gives us hope. It’s as if David is reaching down through the centuries, calling to us and waving us onward.

APPLICATION: As you might have guessed, many of my comments have come from extensive experiences in fighting corruption. Even now, I am at the fringe of some “Augean Stable” situations, and we can only pray that God will send a Holy Ghost river to cleanse them! Most of the time, we don’t ask to be in such situations and we would happily let someone else fix all the problems, if someone else was available and willing. But God calls us because we have made ourselves available and willing to do His will. Once we have said “yes” to God, we cannot go back and re-negotiate!

I am re-reading The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. The descriptions of Moses and his struggles leading the Israelites are priceless; unfortunately, they also sound eerily familiar. The Israelites never left all the Egyptian gods behind and given the slightest provocation, they were more than willing to throw an orgy, hence the incident of the golden calf. Surely there were many days when Moses wished he were back in the wilderness herding sheep; after all, sheep never manufactured idols, nor did they threaten to stone him!

You can break this psalm down into verses and pray individual verses, claiming those promises for yourself. But no matter how you treat this psalm, remember the last verses: “Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”  God is our stronghold and our protection. And God DOES preserve the faithful and fully repays the proud person. Think on that and be glad!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, let everyone who needs this psalm take the verses that help them most to heart. We bless Your Holy Name and we magnify You for Your great works and for Your mercy! Help us to trust in You, even when all looks dark. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Blessedness of Answered Prayer

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.

“I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. I cried out to You, O Lord; and to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”

Psalm 30 is another short power house of a psalm. You can take every verse of this psalm and make it into a separate praise chorus.

“I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me.” When we trust God, He will protect us and justify us. We don’t have to obsess about critics and slander, for God will clear our names.

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” How many of us have found ourselves in dangerous situations from which God has delivered us miraculously? There is a British TV reality show entitled “Close Calls on Camera.” This show documents all kinds of emergencies-parents stricken with heart attacks or diabetic comas, climbing accidents, walkers accidentally wandering into deep mud, traffic accidents, etc. In each situation, those involved survive with the help of family members, passersby, or emergency crews. Sadly, only a few of these people stop to thank the God Who sends help in all those forms, although they do mumble something about the miraculous.

“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  When we remember all the wonders that God has already done, we find encouragement and hope. Does God become angry? Yes. A holy God cannot tolerate sin, but when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive them. And God’s favor lasts a lifetime. Many of us have found ourselves spending sleepless nights wondering what will happen, only to find new hope when morning comes.

“Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”  Live long enough and you realize prosperity is a poor thing to rely on. Investments can evaporate, and companies can go belly up. One of our friends went to work one morning as the head of a large division in his company, only to leave that afternoon without a job, forced into early retirement as the company suddenly announced a move to a larger city several hundred miles away.

“Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. I cried out to You, O Lord; and to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” When the things on which we have built our lives are crumbling, God is the only true Helper.

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” At the end of this psalm, God has triumphed, the singer has been delivered and is dancing and leaping and shouting for joy. If there were fireworks available, the fireworks would be going off!

APPLICATION: This psalm runs the emotional gamut from dark despair to giddy celebration. Are you spending a lot more time slogging away at jobs that are less than inspiring? Do you feel you are spending more time on the near-despair end of the emotional spectrum than on the celebration end? Welcome to the human race; most of us need all the celebrations we can get.

We had one of those celebration moments a few days ago. One little girl had been admitted with seizures and malaria; she was so pale we had to transfuse her immediately. Then it took several days before the little girl woke up. But suddenly she went from being comatose and barely responding to pain to sitting up and demanding rice! And two days later, the little girl walked out of our ward, climbed on her dad’s motorcycle along with her mom, and the family returned home rejoicing.

Are you feeling lower than a ditch digger’s boots? Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? Hold on! Joy comes in the morning, and you too may find your mourning turning to dancing.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, speak to the hearts of all who are reading these words. Let them put their trust in You and give them Your peace and Your joy. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Praise to God in His Holiness and Majesty

A Psalm of David.

“Give[ascribe]unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

“Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” How can we possibly give anything to God, the All-sufficient One? This psalm makes more sense if you substitute “ascribe” for “give.” God is already strong and glorious. For us to ascribe these qualities to Him is merely to recognize that these are part of His nature. The term “ascribe” here can be defined as “regarding a quality as belonging to.” When we give God glory, we are simply recognizing His nature.

How can we “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness?” While we are not holy, God is holy. When we begin to praise God for His holiness, God gives us more grace so that our worship increases exponentially. Worship takes us outside ourselves into a higher dimension.  

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters.” Anybody who lives close to a river that floods seasonally knows the power of water. Floods come when they will, and nobody can prevent them. The area in which we live and work is near a river that floods in rainy season, and if the other streams also rise, we can become a giant island. Under such circumstances, it is comforting to know that God is the One who is over many waters.

“The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.” Here the image is that of whirlwinds tossing huge trees around like so many bowling pins.

“The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” God is both all-powerful and all-gentle. God’s power causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and yet, God also causes deer to bear their young.

“The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever.” The flood referred to here is the flood in the time of Noah. God sovereignly flooded the earth, wiping out sinful people. No matter what happens, God will remain King forever.

“The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” Strength and peace! We all need both.

APPLICATION: This psalm is one of the most wonderful descriptions of God’s might and His glory. Worried about floods? Earthquakes? Tornadoes or hurricanes? Other natural disasters? No problem! God is bigger than all of that.

 The sheer power of a large volume of water must be seen to be understood. People who live in areas prone to flash flooding must be cautious about driving into running water. A few years ago, a woman in our regional capital was driving her big SUV through a rainstorm to collect her daughter from school. Despite the objections of a huge crowd of onlookers, this woman insisted on driving her vehicle into fast-moving water that had risen twenty feet to cover a bridge over the water way. The video on social media showed her vehicle as the water pushed it off the road and into the stream, tumbling it for several yards. The woman did not survive.

Personally, one of the most comforting verses for me is the last one. “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” So many times in my career in a remote bush hospital I have felt totally inadequate. No matter how much experience one has, medicine furnishes an unlimited number of opportunities to be confused or bemused. As the only doctor for more than 100,000 potential patients, I have frequently had to beg God for additional strength to meet the needs of my patients. And when things have not gone as I have hoped and prayed, I still need God’s peace so that I can go on and try again tomorrow.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we praise You for Your glory and Your might! We thank You for Your precious promises. And we claim Your promises of strength and peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

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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.