1 Peter 3 “God Sees All”

“For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (v. 12)

In our society today, why does wickedness seem destined to prevail? Does God not see all that rears its head in defiance of Him and those who live unrighteously? Our text says, "the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”, implying that in due time their judgment will come. Psalm 103:9 tells us, "He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever." Meaning, while this is still the age of grace, and He is still willing that none should perish, judgment is coming!

The major portion of our scripture reading for today it is a quotation from Psalm 34. In it the Psalmist had observed in his day just what the apostle was now seeing - that man's heart does not change from age to age, and is always trying to implement his own schemes and exclude his Creator. As a result, failure will always be written over the futile efforts of the human race to attain peace and happiness without God. Yet, out of the midst of this flawed reasoning, God is calling people to His name. And for those willing to accept His call, there is the promise, "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.”

Therefore, be certain you are on the Lord’s side, receive His offer of salvation today before time runs out.

The Truth: "He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.” (Psalm 103:9)

1 Peter 2 “Jesus, The Cornerstone”

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (v.5)

In Peter’s description of the church, he describes people as “living stones” who are “built up as a spiritual house” with Jesus as the “cornerstone.” From Peter’s perspective, the church is not so much a physical building or even an institution, but people that God is developing and bringing together in Jesus.

It’s important to remember that what makes us as “living stones” fit together in a cohesive unit, is making sure that the cornerstone is in place. In the construction of a building, the cornerstone is set first in the foundation and all the other stones are positioned in reference to it. If the cornerstone is weak or not set in the right place, everything else in the building will be off.

In modern times, our focus can quickly become building bigger facilities or growing an institution, instead of developing people who love and follow Jesus. In such a climate, it is vitally important that the church one calls home is built on the only foundation that can stand the test of time, Jesus. Then, we as “living stones” will be built up as a spiritual house, acceptable to God, with Jesus as our chief cornerstone able to support and develop growth. 

The Truth: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

1 Peter 1 “The Saving Work of the Trinity”

“Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.” (v.2)

In the opening verses of Peter’s first letter, the apostle referred to the role of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son, in saving us (v.2). Our salvation began with the Father’s loving plan, was made possible by Jesus’ atoning death on the cross (to provide forgiveness and cleansing), and is carried out by the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in us. While the trinity may be a confounding concept, it can be clearly seen here at work in the salvation of those mentioned by Peter in verse 1, and our lives today as well. 

The more clearly we see and appreciate the unique role each Person of the Godhead has in our salvation, the more intimate will be our daily walk with Him. 

The Truth: “God, from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and the belief in the truth (His Son).” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Psalm 50 “Offering Thanksgiving To God”

“Offer unto God Thanksgiving; and pay your vows unto the most high.” (v.14)

There are many things one could offer to God, and from many different motivations. But the one "offering" that is always acceptable to God, is praise and thanksgiving out of a pure heart. Scripture tells us to; "continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). This is so easy to do, and is an incrediable witness when done spontaneously with a sincere heart, as it glorifies God in our daily lives.

The payment of our vows mentioned in the second part of our text, is simply following through on what we pledge to do in His name. Being men and women of our word so to speak. Therefore, it is always good to “look before we leap”, and make sure that what we commit to (in His name), we can follow through with.

These simple courtesies of being thankful and dependable to our LORD show our faithfulness in the small things, and demonstrate that we are capable of more responsibilities. Therefore, “Let your ‘yes' be ‘yes', and your ‘no' be ‘no’" (Matthew 5:37), when considering your service to Him. 

The Truth: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things.” (Matthew 25:21) 

Psalm 49 “Do Not Trust In Riches”

“They trust in their wealth and boast about how rich they are, yet not one of them, though rich as kings, can ransom his own brother from the penalty of sin! For God’s forgiveness does not come that way. For a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth. There is not enough of it in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul, to keep it out of hell.” (vv.6-9)

There is no doubt that money can make one comfortable, provide material possessions, determine how one is treated, even elevate one’s status and power. But here in psalm 49 the psalmist tells us, no matter how rich a person is, one can’t purchase the redemption of his soul or his brother’s, for God’s forgiveness can not be purchased. Peter would write, “We are redeemed not by corruptible things like silver and gold, but by the precious blood of the lamb” (1 Peter 1:18-19). 

Therefore, do not put your trust in riches that will be consumed by others when you pass, but put your trust in the Lord who can keep your soul from hell. And while we can not take our money with us, we can share what God has given us to support His work while we are able.   

  

The Truth: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)  

Psalm 48 “The New Jerusalem"

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. In the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. For behold, the kings assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there . . . . As we have heard, So we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever. . . . For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.” (vv.1-6)

Psalm 48 looks forward to the New Jerusalem on Mount Zion. It reminds us that it is good to reflect upon our future in heaven in the city of our great King. The Psalmist envisions the time when all of the earth will be gathered before this great city, even the kings of the earth! They will pass by and marvel at it, but then will become troubled and hurry away in fear. The Psalmist also reminds us that God is to be praised; He is our refuge,; His city will be established forever; that He will be our guide, even unto death. 

But what about after death? God has made us a beautiful city high in the mountains that is established for all eternity. When this earth is destroyed God will create a new Heaven and a new earth where all of the true saints of God will live forever. You too can experience the “new Jerusalem” and the peace and joy that comes to those who believe in Christ by simply asking Him to become the LORD of your life. Therefore, JUST-DO-IT, and I will see you there.

The Truth: " But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” ( Micah 4:1-3)

Psalm 47 “Clap Your Hands”

“Clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with a voice of triumph” (v.1)

Hand clapping, shouting, even dancing were common forms of salutations in Israel during a time of national rejoicing. This was commonly seen at the coronation of a king, or the celebration of a great victory. This Psalm may have been written during the return of "the ark” from the house of Obed-edom into the city of Zion, truly a time of national celebration.

We see in our text that the psalmist is summoning not just the nation of Israel to raise their voices in triumph at the return of the ark, but the Gentiles as well. For they will have an equal share in that Kingdom where there is neither Greek nor Jew, but Christ is all and in all where Jehovah rules and reigns.

Therefore, clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with a voice of triumph - for Christ has conquered sin, satan, and death, and now sits at the right hand of the father, crowned with glory and honor, having obtained eternal redemption for all (people) who believe.

The Truth: For I tell you Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promise made to the patriarchs, so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: ’Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing praise to Your name."  (Romans 15:8-9)

Psalm 46 “God, A Very Pleasant Help”

“God is our refuge and strength, a very pleasant help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (vv.1-2)

While it is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly, it is important to remember that God’s Word is the true source of comfort, security, strength and exhortation, especially in the middle of pain and suffering. For every difficulty, every pain or sorrow we could experience in this life, His Word provides us with the encouragement to move forward. 

When the world around us is saying, “No one really loves you”, God says in His Word, “I love you” (John 3:16). When those around us may say, “You can’t do that”, God’s Word says, “through Me, all things are possible” (Philippians 4:13); and when you say to yourself, “I just can’t manage”, His Word says, “He will supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19).

Therefore, when your thoughts begin to take you in a direction of worry, do not fear. Simply cast your cares on the LORD, and He, the God of refuge and strength, will be your very pleasant help in time of trouble.

The Truth: "Our help is in the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm124:8)

Psalm 45 “The Wedding Song”

Psalm 45 is a beautiful love song about a mighty king and his passionate love for a queen. Many commentators believe it was a psalm written by king Solomon concerning the Pharaoh’s daughter from Egypt, while others believe it deals with Hezekiah, who also took himself a bride (1 Kings 21:1). While the exact setting and author are unknown, this psalm clearly speaks of the King of kings, Jesus Christ, and us as His bride.

Early in this psalm we see the identity of Christ as the king (bridegroom) clearly described in verses 1-8. Then, after seeing the beauty and majesty of the King, we see the queen (the bride), you and I in verses 9-10. The remainder of the psalm describes how the Bridegroom looks at His bride, how He loves her, how He desires her love, and the glorious things He has in store for her (us) in verses 11-17.

Why the LORD has chosen us as His treasure, His poem, His bride, is beyond me. But, when you consider; He loved us while we were yet in our sin, that He was willing to be an atoning sacrifice that we might become His bride, that He has prepared a place for us to spend eternity with Him, why fight it? Accept His proposal of love today, join in the marriage supper of the Lamb, spend eternity with Him as His bride, and sing "the wedding song." 

The Truth:

"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:6-9)

Psalm 44 “O LORD, Arise!”

“Arise for our help, and redeem us for Your mercies sake.” (v.26)

This Psalm reflects on Israel’s past, present, and future deliverance by God. The psalmist begins by recognizing all that God had done in times past to deliver Israel from its enemies (vv.1-4). Then it declares that they (Israel), “will boast in the LORD all day long because of His current protection and favor over them (vv.4-8). But the psalm then takes a sudden turn, and lashes out in an accusatory tone towards God of; abandoning Israel (v.9), scattering them (v.11), allowing them to fall into slavery (v.12), and covering them with a shadow of death (v.19). Finally, the psalm ends with an emotional appeal for a future deliverance from their affliction and oppression (vv.23-26).

I can’t tell you how many times I have called on God for deliverance from messes I have found myself in. I can look back over my life and see God’s hand of protection, provision, and deliverance all over it. And, I’m sure to need His help in the future as well. Though the LORD may sometimes seem to be inattentive to our needs, as He seemed to be with Israel here in our text, He is always with us. And if He is with us, nothing can prevail against us (Romans 8:31).

It is comforting to know that as a child of God, He knows us, He gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch us out of His hand (John 10:27-28). We are redeemed, just as the psalmist requested, and therefore during the battles of life, He will be right there with us, because He loves us. 

The Truth: “In all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

Psalm 43 “Hope in God”

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” (v.5)

It is so easy for us (even as Christians), to loose hope sometimes, to be in despair, to look at our circumstances and say, “Why did this happen to me?” During these periods, we often times look at our struggles more as defeats, rather than something to overcome, to conquer or prevail over. 

Here in our text David starts out by questioning his own position, but then gives himself some very good advice, “Hope in God.” It’s like he woke up and saw that God is bigger than any of his troubles and realized beyond a doubt that God would see him through. Yes he may need to endure his troubles for a season, but he has already claimed victory in the LORD, freeing his soul from pain by displaying his faith in God to prevail.

Life can break us down, cause us to despair, until we tell ourselves like David, “hope in God.” Therefore, lift up your head, rest in the LORD, praise Him for what He will accomplish (even before it happens), and allow Him to work at defeating your circumstances. Then, like David promised, give Him the glory and praise due His name. 

The Truth: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) 

Psalm 42 “My Soul Thirsts For the Living God”

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul longs for you, O God; My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (vv.1)

Here the psalmist uses the picture of a deer searching for water to quench its thirst to show us how his soul feels: parched, dry, and in need of spiritual refreshment. It is this state of dryness that brings about the hopelessness he is expressing here. Because David's soul is lacking the life-giving water of God’s Word, he feels faint, and close to spiritual death. He needs the “living water”, to reawaken his soul so he might once again feel the presence of God, to worship Him, and give Him the praise due His name.

Do you long for the LORD? Does your soul thirst for the living God? I hope so. And I pray that you will find fulfillment and refreshment in His Word, that It becomes your "water brook” during times of dryness, so you too might feel His presence and sing to Him songs of praise.

The Truth: Jesus said to the "woman at the well" who came water to draw, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give will never thirst. But the water that I give will become in him a living fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14)

Psalm 41 “A Prayer For Healing”

“Be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You” (v.4)

Here in Psalm 41 David again is facing difficult circumstances. While suffering from a severe illness (v.8), his enemies plot against him to overthrow him (v.7), and his friend betrays him by joining a rebellion against him (v.9). Realizing he has opened the door to his own problems through sin, David lifts up this prayer to God, “ heal my soul, for I have sinned against You” (v.4). 

There is nothing like a severe illness or the betrayal of a friend, to bring us to our knees. In this case, David was experiencing both, and it caused him to ask God for mercy, for healing, and for forgiveness of his sin. While I’m sure David did not enjoy the set of circumstances he was going through at the time (and the same can be said for us during our difficult times in life), sometimes we must be broken down to get our eyes back on God, so He can build us up even stronger. 

Therefore, take you confession to the One who is able to heal and restore, who’s mercies are new every morning, and who’s steadfast love never comes to an end. Then you will proclaim as David did, “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, and Amen” (v.13).

The Truth: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) 

Psalm 40 “Wait On The Lord”

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” (v.1)

Waiting is never easy and it seems to go against our natural makeup. I know for me, I really have to work at it. But waiting for the Lord can transform us into a people of growing faith. King David spent many years waiting to be crowned king and fleeing from Saul’s wrath. But, he grew into “a man after [God’s] own heart” by waiting on the Lord (Acts 13:22; see 1 Sam. 13:14). 

In the scriptures the apostle Paul lists waiting (patience) as one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). And, the Prophet Isaiah is seen encouraging the people of Israel to be patient as they waited for the Lord to act (Isaiah 40:31). Thus patience has been a key element in one’s walk with the Lord for centuries.

Therefore, when we become frustrated with God’s apparent delay in answering our prayers, it is good to remember that He is interested in developing faith and perseverance in our character as He has done for centuries in others (James 1:2-4). 

Therefore Christian, wait on the Lord and develop you walk of faith with Him.

The Truth: "It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:26)

Psalm 39 “Life Is Just A Vapor"

“Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” (v.4)

The Bible is full of references to the shortness of man’s days and compares it to; a shadow that comes and goes, a flower that fades, a breath that passes away and does not come again, a blade of grass that withers, (see 1 Chronicles 29:15; Job 14:1-2; Psalm 78:39; Isaiah 40:7; James 1:9-11; 4:13-14). Most of us do not like to think about the fleeting nature of our lives or about the reality of death. Yet David prayed here in Psalm 39 that God would show him the frailty of human life and the shortness of his days (v.4)

That may seem a strange prayer until we understand the truth expressed in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” It’s only when we live out our days on earth with one eye on the temporary, that we will live wisely. It leads to a change of perspective that causes us to live for eternity, rather than just for what this world has to offer. The truth is, the more we live with our eyes fixed on the next life, the better equipped we are to live in this one!

David goes on to point out that, if we busy ourselves in this short life with heaping up treasure on earth, we labor in vain - for we do not know who may gather it in (v.6). So what shall we then do? We must seize each day that is given to us. As Paul the Apostle said in Ephesians 5:16, “Redeem the time, because the days are evil.” Therefore, we need to make the most of every situation, making use of the time we have been given.  

The Truth: Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Psalm 38 “Confessing Our Sins”

“I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin” (v.18)

Psalm 38 is traditionally considered one of the seven “penitential psalms,” with the others being Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143. The main point is found in verse 18: “I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.” Thus, when the psalmist asked the Lord to help him, we understand that he was talking primarily about forgiveness.

David’s soul was sick, and he described these feelings in intense physical terms. He had no health, his bones were unsound, his back ached, his wounds festered, he was mute and deaf, he felt crushed and helpless. All these symptoms afflicted him because he knew he had offended God (v. 4). The physical imagery is so vivid here that some commentators actually think the psalmist had a life-threatening illness! 

As Psalm 38 portrays, there’s nothing heavier than the burden of sin, but, nothing sweeter than God’s forgiving love. Therefore, if you are under such a heavy weight, why carry it around, why let it beat you up, lay it down at the feet of Jesus, renew your commitment to righteousness, and enjoy fellowship with Him and the body of Christ once more. "Just DO-IT," you'll be glad you did!

The Truth: “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Psalm 37 “Do Not Fret”

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.” (v.7)

Psalm 37 was written by David near the end of his life. In it he speaks from his personal history with the LORD and gives invaluable advise concerning peace, contentment, and security, to those who trust in God. During his lifetime, David had many occasions to fret, worry, get angry, and take revenge. But in our text we see his formula for peace; rest in the Lord, wait patiently, and do not fret, cease from anger, and forsake wrath. What followed, was a promised inheritance in “the land."

This promise is not just for the Israelites of David’s day, but for us as well. We too can have the assurances and the inheritance found in this psalm if we follow its instruction. Hallelujah! 

The Truth: "For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.” (Proverbs 2:21-22)

Psalm 36 “God's Protective Love”

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” (v.7)

Shortly after the great forest fire in Yellowstone National Park in 1988, a news service reported that forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched like a statue on the ground at the base of a tree. Seeing what seemed to be movement, he pushed the bird aside with a stick, and three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze arrived she spread her wings and covered her offspring while the heat scorched her small body, remaining steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings had lived. 

When David said, “the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings,” some believe he was referring to the wings of the cherubim over the ark. But it seems more likely that David was using a picture of the “protective love” of a mother bird over her young, to describe how God covers us. Jesus used this same picture Himself when He lamented over Jerusalem saying: “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37). Then, He later gave His life willingly for us all.

Thank you LORD for your protective covering in our lives and the salvation you provide to all who will come under Your wings.

The Truth: “For it is by God’s lovingkindness that you have been saved, through your faith. It is not due to yourselves; the gift is God’s” (Ephesians 2:8)

Psalm 35 “The Silence of God”

"Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only life from the lions.” (v.17) 

Once again, as in many psalms, David seeks the Lord for help in his conflict with the wicked. Most bible scholars agree the occasion of this psalm seems to be his fleeing from Saul (I Samuel 24). Throughout this psalm David pleads his righteous case to God. He asks that his adversaries receive from the LORD what he has received from them (vv.1-10). But here in out text he seems to be questioning God’s timing, His lack of immediate action, “how long will You wait? Rescue my soul.”

Boy does this sound familiar. How often do we want what we want right now? How often have we questioned God’s plan, His will, His timing? When we find ourselves in the midst of struggles, it often feels as though help is far away, that our enemies are winning, and that our prayers are going unheard and unanswered. And it is this seeming "silence of God" that feels the most confusing.

During these times it is important to go to God’s Word and refresh ourselves with His promises and direction. Scripture tells us that, “His hand is not so short that it cannot save, nor His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your sins have made a separation between you and God” (Isaiah 59:1). Therefore, it is normal for believers in times like this to go through a period of self-examination, to see if the silence is a result of anything on their part. 

It is never a bad thing to reflect and wait on the Holy Spirit to show us if there is anything standing between God and us. However, there are also times when God is not silent because of our sins, but because He has simply pulled quietly back. This means we are experiencing God’s silence while He is still very much WITH us. 

When His voice seems far off, how do we respond? We continue to pray, fellowship, read the Word, and share His love. The silence of God is not the same as the absence of God; and we must remember that He has already promised to never leave us or forsake us.

The Truth: Jesus said to His disciples, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) 

Psalm 34 “The LORD is Near”

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite (crushed) spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (vv.17-19)

Here in the latter part of Psalm 34, David expresses the truth that the righteous will have troubles, problems. He does not say that God will spare them from broken-hearts, but rather He will hear them, be near to them, deliver them, and even rescue them from a crushed spirit. This is the truth for every believer. 

However it becomes very easy to get discouraged while going through our troubles. Discouragement is a real feeling, and is a tool used by the enemy against every child of God at one time or another. This feeling must be fought off by prayer, scripture, and support from the body of Christ. If you let it sink in, discouragement will press you down, and it can hinder you from doing what the Lord has called you to do.

Therefore, if you are discouraged, take your situation to God in prayer. Look into His Word and claim His promises upon your life, and seek the support of other brothers/sisters in Christ, and He will lift you up. 

The Truth: “For thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (crushed in spirit). Isaiah 57:15

Psalm 33 “Sing to The LORD”

"For the Word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” (v.4)

Here in Psalm 33 David writes, “Sing for joy”, “Give thanks to the Lord”, “Praise Him with the harp”, “Sing a new song, and give a shout of joy” (vv.1-3). Why? Because "the Word of the LORD is upright, and His work is done in faithfulness” (v.4). 

Simply put the psalmist is saying, God's Word is true and He is faithful in all He does. This applies to anything that could happen to us, regardless if it seems good or bad. And, because of His “unfailing love,” which He will never rescind, He will become our strength and our shield to see us through the times of trial (v.20), leaving our hearts to rejoice in Him for trusting in His name (v.21).  

The faithfulness of God's Word caused David to sing unto the Lord, should we not do the same? Therefore, it is fitting that God’s people should sing praises to Him for all He has done, and what He is yet to do. And not just in church, but at anytime the Spirit moves you to “Sing" to His great name. 

The Truth: "And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)

Note: Read also Revelation 5:10-14