June 5–Psalm 59-65

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water”(Psalm 63:1).

Humans are thirsty for God. Barely aware of it, at times. In other moments, desperately conscious of our need. Without God, life is dry. Dead.

It is an analogy used often by our Lord and the Scripture. “I am the water that you have been searching for all of your life,” Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4. Psalm 1 says that a man who loves God’s word will be like a tree planted by waters. Green. Fresh. Fruitful.

In Psalm 63, in a moment of actual physical dryness (the wilderness of Judah as he fled from Saul), David confessed the same reality. “My real thirst is for You!” he cried out to God.

Life easily and quickly gets dry, doesn’t it? Illness. Stress. Anxiety. Depression. Gradually a deep awareness dawns on the heart. This world is not enough! We need GOD! Not freedoms or entertainment or job or even safety. Our true thirst is for the Creator, His nearness, His approval, a real and right relationship with Him.

“All my life I had a longing for a drink from some cool spring, that I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within. Hallelujah! I have found Him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings; through His blood I now am saved”(Clara Tear Williams).

“If I find within myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world” (C. S. Lewis).

Are you thirsty, my friend? Do you realize that He made you for Himself and that nothing will ever satisfy you but Him?

Recognizing your need, will you seek Him?

June 4–Psalm 52-58

“The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance. . .and men will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth”(58:10-11).

We who hunger for justice must also, logically, hunger for judgement. Just as we depend on court systems to render fair verdicts and sentences, so we trust God to judge the thoughts and actions of humans. Not only trust Him to do so, we actively desire it. Rightly, we cry out for Him to reward some and punish others. See the woman’s prayer in the Jesus parable (Luke 18).

When David prays for God’s vengeance on the wicked (Psalm 58), he does so with words that are disturbing to Christians. “Shatter their teeth” (v. 6). “The righteous will REJOICE when he sees the vengeance” (v. 10).

We must read these words with caution. “Father, forgive them,” Jesus prayed over His enemies and must, therefore, be our starting place, too. Mercy is God’s preference and I must ever be aware of my tendency to presume my own righteousness and assume the evil intent of others. Only God can balance both grace and justice. I must leave the task to Him.

Even so, true love is not opposed to judgement, nor denies the need for it. God’s love and God’s judgement are not mutually exclusive. Without some care, we will take sides with the world against God, Himself. We will unconsciously, begin to believe it wrong or unjust for even God to judge. No, says the Scripture! Judgement is a necessary part of God’s holiness and government. When judgement comes, the believer must affirm that it is right and good.

When God says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” the believer receives this promise as proof that the universe is essentially moral, and ultimately accountable.

“The absence of anger, especially that sort of anger which we would call indignation, can, in my opinion, be a most alarming symptom”(C. S. Lewis).

Friend, do you believe in a God SO holy that He rightfully demands it of His whole creation? Do you believe He judges evil? Do you REJOICE in this attribute as part of His pure and righteous nature and trust Him to do it with absolute justice and fairness?

June 3–Psalm 46-51

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea. . .There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. . .God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved”(46:1-2, 4-5).

Psalm 46 paints a familiar picture. Life in chaos.

Crashing waves. Roaring ocean. Mountains crumbling under the relentless attack, slipping into the sea. Foundational things, essential things, dissolving away.

Into this anxious moment, Psalm 46 speaks an encouraging Spiritual truth. God is our refuge (defensive resource, a place to hide) AND our strength (dynamic resource, inner power helping us to think and act with courage). Life may be falling apart (changing at a destabilizing pace), but God isn’t! He is constant. Reliable. Calm. Strong.

In vs. 4-7, the writer reports the existence of a parallel world. A peaceful and beautiful city with a river flowing through it. Tranquil. Strong. Not Jerusalem (no river there), rather a symbolic picture of Heaven. Present reality, not fantasy! This calm, certain place exists now! God is “in the midst of her.” He is her provision and protection. The people in this blessed city live unafraid. “A city whose builder and maker is God,” says Hebrews 11.

Two applications are urged on us by this profound psalm. 1) WE WILL NOT FEAR. See v. 2. Both a decision and a discipline, when we fix our eyes on invisible realities, courage comes. 2) WE MUST CEASE STRIVING! God commands us to stop all self-sponsored efforts to find assurance. See v. 10. As we calm our anxious hearts and abandon all strategies rising from fear, we hear again (heed, receive) the promises of a faithful God. “I will be exalted,” He says with confident strength. Chaos is no match for our victorious God! Order and beauty are inevitable outcomes. When our hearts are fixed on this truth, deep confidence comes.

“When the world around me crumbles and it’s hard to understand, I will run to you, my shelter, I am safe within your hands”(Lauren Daigle, lyrics by Condrey and Darnell).

“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. . .you’ll be a Man, my son” (Rudyard Kipling).

Strange paradox. As I fix my eyes on an invisible world I find courage to live in the visible one.

Calm in chaos. God is. I can be, too.

June 2–Psalm 41-45

“You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push back our adversaries; through your name we will trample down those who rise up against us”(44:4-5).

It is a confidence we need to regain. As we follow Christ, we are to pray for VICTORY, to expect it. Discouragement is cancer of the soul. “I have overcome the world,” said Jesus. We are to believe it, pray it.

Assertiveness is scarce in this present hour. The moral relativism of the age shames believers who expect (or even desire) victory. Assertiveness of any kind is dismissed as moral arrogance.

The Scripture, however, does not share this uncertainty. Moral clarity is not equivalent to pride. Facing Goliath, young David felt no need to propose that “everyone is right”. The victory of God is good. The highest good!

An ever-present conflict boils in our world. “The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord and His Christ” (Psalm 2). Proud men resist the authority and glory of God. Does God ignore such rebellion? Should He?

Friedrich Nietzsche famously warned, “be careful when you fight the dragon, that you do not become a dragon.” Jesus also understood the danger of swords and anger and assertive power.

Even so, a believer needs to humbly hold a confidence in victory. The dragon must be fought. And defeated. Faith includes a certainty of the coming victory of God. The defeat of His enemies is not something for which the Righteous One apologizes, nor needs to.

Friend, do you rejoice in an assertive God? Do you agree that He is right to oppose and judge those who deny Him? Are you glad when truth prevails and God is honored?

“The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. . . to this end, we pray for you always” (2 Timothy 1:7-11).

“Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20, KJV).

June 1—Psalm 37-40

‘The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way; when he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand”(37:23-24).

As believers, we are “interns of the invisible”. Disciples. Learners. Material people, being trained to walk in the Spirit.

Sometimes, in our training, we make mistakes. Sadly, old habits of thought and deed reassert themselves. The world and the flesh and the devil are constantly near. When we listen to the false counsel of these enemies, we stumble.

Trial and error is part of the Christ-curriculum. God could change it, but He doesn’t. He allows carefully monitored temptations to come. When we trip and fall, He is near to teach us. Even in our stumbling, grace is sufficient. Failure is not His plan. Growth is.

In Luke 22, Jesus says the same to Peter. “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat (a mysteriously Job-like prediction), but I have prayed for you (the Lord’s stays near us in our immaturity, interceding for us) that your faith fail not (the key factor in failure-recovery is faith. Our task, even in failure, is to look to God for the forgiveness and grace to begin again) and when you are turned again, strengthen your brothers”(31-32). Please note, it is through this trial that Jesus intends to change Peter. He does not prevent the difficulty. Christ uses it to teach him.

David knew the same spiritual truth. The stubborn love of God does not let go, even we trip. He holds our hand to prevent full disaster, then pulls us back up onto the road for the journey to continue.

Friend, do you love this great and loyal Teacher? Are you grateful for His tender mercies toward you? Will you rejoice today in His faithfulness that far exceeds any human love? Will you take His kindness deep into your heart? Will you repent and continue to grow in Christ-likeness?

“In school, you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you are given a test and it teaches you a lesson” (Tom Bodett).

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”(Romans 2:4).

May 31–Psalm 32-36

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. . .the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together”(34:1-3).

Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” He began with words of praise. The eyes of Christ were lifted up! The person who knows God will SEE His greatness and SPEAK it.

Witness is related to praise. Those who praise God (vertical communication) learn easily to tell others (horizontal communication) of God. Witness is simply our invitation for others to come and JOIN us in praise to God. Integrity here! Unless we praise, why should anyone listen to our testimony?

Psalm 34 was written after the events of 1 Samuel 21. David was in a dark place. Discouraged. Weary. Making poor decisions. In this time of great distress, David recovered enough to, “seek the Lord.” Doing so, he found guidance and deliverance.

Profoundly moved by God’s faithfulness to an undeserving son, He tells the story in a song and invites others who are “humble” (broken, convinced that they cannot do life without God’s help) to hear and join the song.

Those who discover the power of praise find boldness to invite others to come and join the song. When my eyes are on me, my lips are silent. When my eyes are on God, praise rises from deep within.

“O Lord my God, when I, in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed; Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!” (Carl Boberg).

“When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. . .(then) you shall be my witnesses”(Acts 1:8).

May 30–Psalm 26-31

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. . .do not turn your face from me. Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord”(27:7,9,14).

There are two moods in Psalm 27. Likely, you have known both of them in your own life.

In v 1-6, David is confident and joyful. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” he sings in v. 1. He feels secure in Christ and grateful for the privilege to “behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple”(27:4).

In v 7, the mood shifts. Dramatically. Without warning, David is caught (again) in a moment of struggle and fear. “Hear me!” he cries to the Lord. “Don’t hide your face from me.” What was easy and comfortable yesterday, is now a discouraging struggle. Been there?

I’m grateful for David’s honest report (in a single psalm we see how quickly these moods cycle, even for him). I am encouraged by his prayer in v. 11. Use my struggles, Lord! Teach me about you! Do not deliver me to my enemies, and don’t let me miss the lessons contained in my difficulties!

In Hebrews 11:5, the bible warns us against “fainting” under the Lord’s discipline. It translates a word that means, “to let go, to grow weary, to give up”. In some ways quitting is the greatest danger of all. If I retreat when things are hard, if I allow my fickle heart to long for Egypt, I will never fully understand God’s love. Endurance is required.

In v. 14, David gives himself (and us) some powerful advice. WAIT for the Lord! Don’t panic! Wait! Be strong! Don’t complain or whine! Learn the skills of perseverance! Let your heart take courage! You don’t have to create the courage, just take what is available from the Spirit when it comes. “Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength.”

“Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true. Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true. There’s a race that must be run, there’s a victory to be won. Every hour, by Thy power, keep me true”(Gospel song, anonymous).

May 29–Psalm 20-25

“Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men encircle me; they have pierced my hands and my feet. . .They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing” (22:16,18).

Our Lord quoted this psalm on the cross. “My, God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”( v. 1). Doing so, He claimed it as His own. Declared the words of David as prophesy of the cross.

Prophecy is a miracle. There is no natural, scientific explanation. Written 1000 years before the actual event, these words describe the events of Golgotha with soul-stilling precision. The piercing of his hands and feet. The indescribable thirst. Soldiers dividing garments, casting lots for clothing. Sarcastic enemies gathered around in ridicule. It is a supernaturally exact description of a future moment!

Was David aware, as he wrote these words, that he was seeing the future death of the Messiah? No one knows. Scholars debate, “prophetic consciousness.”

What is not debated is the historical reality of the cross, nor the courage of Christ as He faced it. With great courage, in great pain, our Savior declared God’s holiness (v 3). “The obedient Son knows too well His Father’s goodness to let outward circumstances libel His character. There is no unrighteousness with God”(C. S. Spurgeon).

Friend, do you believe in prophesy? As you read this psalm today, will you open your heart to the strength and hope of it? The future is KNOWN to God. “He knows the way that I will take” (Job 23:10). Our infinitely wise God is aware of every challenge we ever face, prepared to guide us through it.

“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Holy Spirit within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow”(1 Peter 1:11).

May 28–Psalm 16-19

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy” (16:11).

It is a wonderful life! With apologies to George Bailey in the 1946 Christmas classic movie, the joy and fulfillment for which humans hunger is available in God. There is a “path of life”, and David is public and passionate with the declaration.

It is a life of surrender and community. A person comes to Christ in surrender and faith (16:1). He/she calls Jesus “Lord” (16:2). Jesus is the decision maker, the direction-setter. Owning Jesus, the believer discovers a new life of dear friendship with others who know this same truth (16:3). In Him, we find a band of brothers. We belong to Him. We belong with them.

It is a life of communication and counsel. David reports times (many) when he has gone to sleep with a problem on his mind and waked with clear direction. A dream? A certainty that came sub-consciously in the night? See v. 7. I have written sermons this way. Solved problems. God is at work even when we are asleep! He is competent in both the conscious and sub-conscious parts of my mind.

It is a life of spiritual priority and protection. “I have set the Lord continually before me,” reports David in 16:8. God is THE goal and ambition. He is our only passion. Even when conflicts and troubles come, we experience a rooted, stable strength. “The Lord is my rock,” says David in honest testimony. See 18:1.

It is a life of hope. David expresses trust for the events after death. Over the years of his life, David has known God’s guidance and help. He is confident that death will not, cannot, change his place in the heart of God. See v. 10.

Friend, do you hear the honest testimony of this godly man? Do you realize that everything he is describing is intended for everyone who comes to Christ in faith? This wonderful life is intended for you! For me!

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin).

“I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly”(John 10:10).

May 27–Psalm 9-15

“But the Lord abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, and He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity”(9:7-8).

God is a righteous judge. Life may not be fair, but God is! He will make things right. In time (partially) and in eternity (perfectly).

Psalm 9 has an interesting sub-title. Muth-labben means, “the death of a son.” The Chaldean translation of this text adds these words, “Concerning the death of the champion who went out between the camps.” Some believe that David wrote this psalm after the death of Goliath. McGee believes that the psalm is more likely a reference to the death of the first-born in Egypt in Exodus.

In either case, the truth stands. God judges those who oppose Him. He actively undermines them, rendering His verdict on evil. David believed it and wants us to believe it, too.

In an “age of tolerance” the lines between good and evil are often blurred by the various opinions of men. God is not confused. The One who separated light from darkness (didn’t allow them to be mixed or treated as equals) does the same with actions and choices of men. While He forbids us judging others, Jesus never surrenders the fact that He will do so. The world is NOT morally unaccountable. There will be a verdict for evil men. There will be a reward for righteousness.

When Paul preached to Felix, he referenced this doctrine. His sermon that day concerned “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come“(Acts 24:25). Hearing Paul speak on this subject made the Roman governor afraid. We are all well served to feel the same fear.

David’s emphasis was on judgment operating in time. Paul’s emphasis was on judgment as a future event. Either way, the truth is the same.

Friend, are you confident that the Lord is the Judge of all men? That He, over time and in eternity, will reward the righteous and destroy the wicked? David was. Paul was. Jesus was. Are you?

“I have two days on my calendar: This day and that Day” (Martin Luther).

“Wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God”(1 Corinthians 4:5).

“But they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:5).